六氯苯对PC-12 细胞凋亡的影响

目的:探讨环境内分泌干扰物六氯苯对PC-12细胞凋亡的影响及其可能机制。方法:采用体外细胞培养方法,5%CO2 37℃恒温条件下,将PC-12细胞培养于含10%灭活胎牛血清的高糖DMEM培养基中。0、1、10、20、100、200μmol.L-1六氯苯处理组,每组设3组复孔,培养24 h后应用Cell Counting Kit-8试剂盒进行六氯苯对PC-12细胞增殖和毒性分析;流式细胞术FITC-An-nexinV/PI双染检测细胞凋亡率;Hoechst33258染色及倒置荧光显微镜拍摄细胞平片,观察细胞形态学改变;免疫印记法(Western blot)检测相关蛋白PLCγ及ERK蛋白磷酸化表达变化。结果:随着六氯苯浓度增加,细胞凋亡率升高,呈剂量依赖关系;Hoechst33258染色可见细胞核膨大、染色质边集浓染等凋亡特征;与对照组相比p-PLCγ及p-ERK1/2表达均降低,呈剂量依赖效用。结论:六氯苯能够诱导PC-12细胞凋亡,p-PLCγ及p-ERK1/2信号通路可能在此过程中发挥作用。     

棉酚对Jurkat T细胞增殖与凋亡的影响

研究棉酚(gossypol)对Jurkat T细胞增殖和凋亡的影响及可能机制.将不同浓度的棉酚作用于Jurkat T细胞,用MTS比色法检测细胞存活率;以膜联蛋白V-PE染色分析细胞凋亡;用Hoechst33342染色观察核形态:用荧光染料Mitocapture结合流式细胞术和激光共焦显微镜检测线粒体跨膜电位变化.结果显示棉酚作用Jurkat T细胞24 h、48 h、72 h,其IC50值分别为77.2μmol/L、57.3 μmol/L、23.3 μmol/L,对细胞的抑制作用与药物存在时间-剂量依赖关系;终浓度为8、16、32 μmol/L的棉酚处理24 h后的细胞凋亡率分别为5.30%、15.20%、51.19%,对照组凋亡率为3.43%;高浓度棉酚作用后大量细胞核呈现染色质固缩、核碎裂和致密浓染等凋亡特征;随着浓度增加细胞线粒体跨膜电位明显降低.研究表明棉酚能有效抑制Jurkat T细胞增殖和诱导其发生凋亡,并呈现出时间-剂量依赖关系,其诱导凋亡的作用可能依赖于线粒体途径.     

人骨形态发生蛋白12对人骨肉瘤细胞的生物学作用

为研究人骨形态发生蛋白(human bone morphogenetic proteins,hBMP)12对人骨肉瘤细胞株MG63和U2OS的作用,分别用hBMP12重组腺病毒(AdBMP12)以及含重组hBMP12(recombinant hBMP12,rhBMP12)的条件培养液干预人骨肉瘤细胞MG63和U2OS,利用台盼蓝拒染法、TUNEL法、吖啶橙/溴乙啶(AO/EB)荧光双染法、Transwell小室和碱性磷酸酶活性测定法分别检测细胞增殖、凋亡、迁移以及成骨分化能力的变化.与相应对照组相比,AdBMP12和含rhBMP12的条件培养液的干预致两种骨肉瘤细胞株细胞存活率降低,并呈一定的时间依赖性;凋亡率均随时间延长而增加,并且两种检测方法的结果一致;不同时间点的细胞穿膜数均明显减低;碱性磷酸酶活性在干预3d后开始逐渐增加,至第9d仍可观测到.以上差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01).提示无论是以腺病毒介导基因转入还是重组蛋白直接作用方式,hBMP12都可以抑制人骨肉瘤细胞株MG63和U2OS的增殖和迁移,并诱导其凋亡和向成骨细胞分化.     

RUNX1对氧糖剥夺诱导PC12细胞凋亡的保护作用研究

目的:研究RUNX1在PC12细胞氧糖剥夺模型中的表达及其对PC12细胞的保护作用,并探讨其相关机制。方法:体外培养PC12细胞并构建氧糖剥夺模型,将细胞分为对照组、氧糖剥夺组、RUNX1 si RNA处理组、si RNA对照处理组(sicontrol)、pc DNA3.1-RUNX1处理组(pc RUNX1)和pc DNA3.1对照处理组(pc DNA 3.1)。q RT-PCR和western blot检测RUNX1、磷酸化Akt(p-Akt)和总Akt(t-Akt)表达水平;MTT法检测细胞存活率;Annexin V-FITC/PI双染法检测细胞凋亡。结果:与对照组比较,RUNX1在PC12细胞氧糖剥夺模型中表达水平显著升高;沉默RUNX1可下调PC12细胞的存活率,促进细胞的凋亡,有效抑制p-Akt蛋白表达,而过表达RUNX1显著提高细胞存活率,抑制细胞凋亡,并上调p-Akt蛋白表达;此外,PI3K/Akt通路抑制剂LY294002明显抑制RUNX1过表达对细胞存活率的促进作用和对细胞凋亡的抑制作用。结论:RUNX1可通过PI3K/Akt信号通路保护OGD对PC12细胞的损伤作用。     

六氯苯对PC-12细胞凋亡的影响

目的：探讨环境内分泌干扰物六氯苯对PC-12细胞凋亡的影响及其可能机制。方法：采用体外细胞培养方法,5%CO2 37℃恒温条件下,将PC-12细胞培养于含10%灭活胎牛血清的高糖DMEM培养基中。0、1、10、20、100、200μmol.L-1六氯苯处理组,每组设3组复孔,培养24 h后应用Cell Counting Kit-8试剂盒进行六氯苯对PC-12细胞增殖和毒性分析;流式细胞术FITC-An-nexinV/PI双染检测细胞凋亡率;Hoechst33258染色及倒置荧光显微镜拍摄细胞平片,观察细胞形态学改变;免疫印记法（Western blot）检测相关蛋白PLCγ及ERK蛋白磷酸化表达变化。结果：随着六氯苯浓度增加,细胞凋亡率升高,呈剂量依赖关系;Hoechst33258染色可见细胞核膨大、染色质边集浓染等凋亡特征;与对照组相比p-PLCγ及p-ERK1/2表达均降低,呈剂量依赖效用。结论：六氯苯能够诱导PC-12细胞凋亡,p-PLCγ及p-ERK1/2信号通路可能在此过程中发挥作用。     

硫链丝菌素诱导非小细胞肺癌细胞自噬性死亡

自噬在细胞的生命过程中起了非常重要的作用,它能通过清除受损的细胞器和过多的蛋白质以维持细胞内环境稳定基本能量代谢的稳定。然而,自噬的持续激活可导致细胞器以及必需的蛋白质的过度消耗,导致不依赖caspase的自噬性细胞死亡。因此,通过这种自噬途径诱导细胞死亡可能是癌症治疗的一种新方法。在本研究我们发现,硫链丝菌素能够减少非小细胞肺癌PC-9细胞的细胞活力和诱导细胞凋亡。另外,我们发现硫链丝菌素诱导了PC-9细胞自噬。此外,我们也发现硫链丝菌素诱导的细胞凋亡可以被自噬抑制剂3-甲基腺嘌呤(3-MA)阻止。这些结果表明,硫链丝菌素促进人体非小细胞肺癌细胞的自噬性死亡。在本研究我们的发现也提示硫链丝菌素联合自噬诱导剂可能在临床上对治疗人非小细胞肺癌有效。     

二苯乙烯苷通过抑制NF-κB的激活减轻MPP+诱导 的PC12细胞凋亡

目的:探讨2,3,5,4’-四羟基二苯乙烯-2-o-β-D-葡萄糖苷(2,3,5,4’-tetrahydroxystibene-2-o-β-D-glucoside,TSG)对1-甲基-4-苯基吡啶离子(1-methy-4-phenylpyridinium,MPP+)诱导PC12细胞凋亡的影响及其可能机制。方法:四甲基偶氮唑蓝(MTT)比色试验检测PC12细胞活性;Hoechst33258染色法测定细胞凋亡;Westernblotting检测NF-κB(P65)和IκBα蛋白的表达。结果:MPP+(300μmol/L)作用于PC12细胞24h后,与正常对照组比较,细胞存活率降低(53.3±3.4%)(P<0.01);细胞染色质固缩,细胞核呈致密浓染。TSG(1,5,10μmol/L)预处理24h后,细胞存活率增加(60.8±1.9%),(70.1±1.8%)(P<0.01),(81.2±1.9%)(P<0.01);细胞核凝聚明显减少,且具有量一效关系。另外,MPP+可使PC12细胞核中NF-κB(P65)蛋白表达升高,细胞浆中IκBα蛋白表达降低;与MPP+处理组细胞相比,TSG预处理后,PC12细胞核中高表达的NF-κB(P65)蛋白水平明显降低,细胞浆中低表达的IκBα蛋白水平升高。结论:TSG对MPP+诱导的PC12细胞凋亡具有浓度依赖性的抑制作用,其作用机制可能与抑制NF-κB的激活有关。     

自噬与非小细胞肺癌对吉非替尼耐药关系的实验研究

目的:探讨细胞自噬与非小细胞肺癌对Gefitinib耐药的相关性,寻找逆转非小细胞肺癌对Gefitinib耐药的新靶点。方法:以体外培养的人非小细胞肺癌Gefitinib敏感细胞PC-9与Gefitinib耐药细胞PC-9/GR为研究对象,通过MTT法检测Gefitinib对PC-9及PC-9/GR细胞存活率的影响;Western blot检测Gefitinib对PC-9及PC-9/GR细胞中自噬相关蛋白LC3的表达的影响;流式细胞术检测自噬诱导剂雷帕霉素和Gefitinib对PC-9/GR细胞凋亡率的影响。结果:PC-9/GR细胞Gefitinib IC50为PC-9细胞的200倍以上,具有非常明显的耐药性。PC-9/GR细胞中LC3II的表达显著低于PC-9/GR细胞(P0.05)。Rapamycin联合Gefitinib作用于PC-9/GR细胞可以明显提高其细胞凋亡率(P0.05)。结论:细胞自噬减弱与非小细胞肺癌对Gefitinib耐药有关,诱导细胞自噬可能逆转非小细胞肺癌对Gefitinib耐药。     

α-硫辛酸对6-羟多巴胺诱导的PC12细胞凋亡的影响

实验运用PC12细胞系研究6-羟多巴胺的细胞毒性作用以及α-硫辛酸抗6-羟多巴胺毒性的作用及其机制.用MTT法测定显示6-OHDA使细胞存活率降低至56.8%,细胞突起变短、胞质浓缩、核质深染,细胞贴壁能力下降,胞膜损伤.原位末端dUTP标记法(TUNEL)显示阳性标记细胞,表明6-OHDA引起PC12细胞产生坏死和凋亡.流式细胞仪分析表明6-OHDA作用后凋亡细胞比例达20.09%.运用α-硫辛酸预处理后,能明显预防6-OHDA的毒性作用,可使细胞存活率上升,凋亡细胞比例降低至3.09%,α-硫辛酸的作用与提高细胞内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活力和还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量有关.     

ALA-PDT对多种白血病细胞破坏作用的实验研究

目的:本研究主要观察相同条件的5 氨基乙酰丙酸的光动力疗法(ALA PDT)对不同种类的白血病细胞株生存率的影响,以及细胞死亡类型的差异。方法:选择5种白血病细胞(K562、HL60、U937、MOLT 4和6T CEM)进行比较。用MTT法检测细胞的存活率,用AnnexinV FITC PI双染法检测细胞不同死亡类型的比例。结果:不同细胞对相同条件的ALA PDT的敏感程度不同,依次为U937相似文献   

高浓度葡萄糖对体外培养大鼠胰岛细胞凋亡的影响

目的:探讨高浓度葡萄糖对体外培养大鼠胰岛细胞凋亡的影响及作用机制。方法:SD大鼠胰岛细胞原代培养,不同浓度的葡萄糖处理后,采用MTT比色法检测细胞存活率,Hoechst-PI染色观察细胞凋亡,电镜观察细胞超微结构改变,RT-PCR方法检测Bax及Bcl-2相关基因mRNA表达水平。结果:5.5 mmol·L~(-1),11.1 mmol·L~(-1)和22.2 mmol·L~(-1)葡萄糖处理后,胰岛细胞活性分别下降到78.08%±2.29%、58.39%±3.13%和36.05%±2.63%,与阴性对照组比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);Hoechst-PI染色结果显示随着葡萄糖作用浓度的增加,凋亡细胞数量也增加;RT-PCR显示胰岛细胞经不同浓度葡萄糖处理后,Bax mRNA的表达明显上调,Bcl-2 mRNA表达下调(P0.05);电镜观察结果显示随着葡萄糖作用浓度的增加,胰岛细胞超微结构损害程度依次加重。结论:高浓度葡萄糖能明显引起胰岛细胞活性的下降,诱导凋亡反应的发生,凋亡机制与Bcl-2家族蛋白相关。     

量子点应用于人骨肉瘤HOS细胞系研究的生物毒性评价

目的:将合成的两种量子点应用于研究人骨肉瘤HOS细胞系,初步检测其生物毒性,以确定本研究所制备量子点可否应用于骨肉瘤的基础研究。方法:将生长良好的HOS细胞与制备的两种量子点分别共培养,使用MTT试剂盒检测不同时间点细胞活性,实验进行三次,取其平均值,分析所得数据,并绘制出量子点浓度-细胞活性曲线,分析得出两者之间的量效关系。结果:1.4μM的CdTe/ZnS QDs和0.275μM的Cd Te/Cd S QDs分别是本实验中对HOS细胞的最高毒性浓度。较短时间(30 min)的暴露分别导致了48.6±0.9%和31.9±0.8%的细胞死亡,3 h后分别有33.7±2.3%和49.4±1.1%的细胞存活。而在孵育了18 h之后,只有28.0±1.6%和15.3±1.6%的细胞存活。我们可以观察到均为典型的时间/浓度曲线。结论:选用适宜浓度以及共培养时间,本实验制备的量子点完全可以满足纳米量子点粒子使用于HOS细胞研究的基本生物学条件,可以进行人骨肉瘤HOS细胞测温等的一些列实验操作。由于量子点自身优越的光学性能以及可接受的生物安全性,在肿瘤研究领域具有很大的潜力,将会成为肿瘤示踪、检测、以及靶向治疗新的有力工具。     

Determination of a Threshold Dose to Reduce or Eliminate CdTe-Induced Toxicity in L929 Cells by Controlling the Exposure Dose

With the widespread use of quantum dots (QDs), the likelihood of exposure to quantum dots has increased substantially. The application of quantum dots in numerous biomedical areas requires detailed studies on their toxicity. In this study, we aimed to determine the threshold dose which reduced or eliminated CdTe-induced toxicity in L929 cells by controlling the exposure dose. We established a cellular model of acute exposure to CdTe QDs. Cells were exposed to different concentrations of CdTe QDs (2.2 nm and 3.5 nm) followed by illustrative cytotoxicity analysis. The results showed that low concentrations of CdTe QDs (under 10 µg/mL) promoted cell viability, caused no obvious effect on the rate of cell apoptosis, intracellular calcium levels and changes in mitochondrial membrane potential, while high concentrations significantly inhibited cell viability. In addition, reactive oxygen species in the 10 µg/mL-treated group was significantly reduced compared with the control group. In summary, the cytotoxicity of CdTe QDs on L929 cell is dose-dependent, time-dependent and size-dependent. Low concentrations of CdTe QDs (below 10 µg/mL) may be nontoxic and safe in L929 cells, whereas high concentrations (above 10 µg/mL) may be toxic resulting in inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis in L929 cells.     

A new nanoprobe based on FRET between functional quantum dots and gold nanoparticles for fluoride anion and its applications for biological imaging

A new nanoprobe was designed for the fluorescence imaging of fluoride anion (F(-)) in living cells with high sensitivity and selectivity. The design is based on the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between CdTe quantum dots (CdTe QDs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) through the formation of cyclic esters between phenylborinic acid and diol. In the presence of F(-), the boronate ester, a "hard acid", strongly reacts with F(-), a "hard base". Therefore, the boronate ester is converted to trifluoro borate, which causes the breakage of the linkage and disassembles CdTe QDs from AuNPs, resulting in the fluorescence recovery of the quenched CdTe QDs. The interaction mechanism was investigated by (19)FNMR on a model that was constructed by a small molecule and F(-). Quantum chemical calculations also testify the reactivity of boronate ester to F(-) and the sensing mechanism. Experimental results show that the increase in fluorescence intensity is proportional to the concentration of F(-) in the range of 5.0-45 μM. The detection limit and the relative standard deviation were 50 nM and 2.6%, respectively. Fluorescence imaging of F(-) in macrophages cells indicates good cell membrane penetration ability and low cytotoxicity of the nanoprobe, providing a viable alternative to detection of F(-) in biological or environmental samples.     

PXD101对口腔鳞癌HN-6细胞增殖及凋亡的初步研究

目的:本实验探讨组蛋白去乙酰化酶抑制剂PXD101对口腔鳞癌HN-6细胞的增殖、细胞凋亡及细胞周期的影响。方法:PXD101对口腔鳞癌HN-6细胞进行干预,倒置相差显微镜观察细胞形态学改变;MTT法检测PXD101对HN-6细胞的增殖影响;Annexin-V-FITC/PI双染流式细胞仪定量检测细胞凋亡;流式细胞仪分析细胞周期。结果:PXD101可明显抑制HN-6细胞的生长(P0.05),呈时间剂量依赖性。倒置相差显微镜下观察对照组细胞贴壁,形态呈多边形,生长活跃;实验组细胞脱壁,变小,细胞核皱缩。绘制细胞生长曲线示,随着PXD101的浓度和作用时间的增加,HN-6细胞生长明显受到抑制,各实验组细胞生长抑制率与对照组比较,P0.05差别有统计学意义。1μmol/LPXD101作用24 h,48 h细胞总凋亡率分别为20.9%、38.6%,与对照组相比有统计学意义(P0.05);HN-6细胞周期阻滞于G0/G1期,与对照组相比,P0.05差别有统计学意义。结论:PXD101体外实验能显著抑制人口腔舌癌HN-6的细胞增殖,诱导细胞凋亡。     

Fluorescence quenching investigation on the interaction of glutathione‐CdTe/CdS quantum dots with sanguinarine and its analytical application

Water‐soluble glutathione (GSH)‐capped core/shell CdTe/CdS quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized. In pH 5.4 sodium phosphate buffer medium, the interaction between GSH‐CdTe/CdS QDs and sanguinarine (SA) was investigated by spectroscopic methods, including fluorescence spectroscopy and ultraviolet‐visible absorption spectroscopy. Addition of SA to GSH‐CdTe/CdS QDs results in fluorescence quenching of GSH‐CdTe/CdS QDs. Quenching intensity was in proportion to the concentration of SA in a certain range. Investigation of the quenching mechanism, proved that the fluorescence quenching of GSH‐CdTe/CdS QDs by SA is a result of electron transfer. Based on the quenching of the fluorescence of GSH‐CdTe/CdS QDs by SA, a novel, simple, rapid and specific method for SA determination was proposed. The detection limit for SA was 3.4 ng/mL and the quantitative determination range was 0.2–40.0 µg/mL with a correlation coefficient of 0.9988. The method has been applied to the determination of SA in synthetic samples and fresh urine samples of healthy human with satisfactory results. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Labeling of BSA and imaging of mouse T‐lymphocyte as well as mouse spleen tissue by l‐glutathione capped CdTe quantum dots

l ‐glutathione capped highly fluorescent CdTe quantum dots (QDs) were prepared by an aqueous approach and used as fluorescent labels to link albumin bovine serum (BSA) and rat anti‐mouse CD4, which was expressed on mouse T‐lymphocyte and mouse spleen tissue. The sharp and narrow emission peaks showed that the as‐prepared QDs have desirable dispersibility, uniformity and good fluorescence properties. Both CdTe–BSA and CdTe–CD4 conjugates showed an enhancement of fluorescence intensity over that of bare CdTe QDs. The experimental result of gel electrophoresis confirmed the successful conjugation of CdTe–BSA and CdTe–CD4. The fluorescent microscopic images of CdTe–CD4 labeled mouse T‐lymphocyte cells and mouse spleen tissue were compared with that obtained from fluorescein isothiocyanate labeling. It was demonstrated that the CdTe QDs‐based probe exhibited much better photostability and fluorescence intensity than fluorescein isothiocyanate, showing a good application potential in the immuno‐labeling of cells and tissues. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of N‐Acetyl‐L‐Cysteine‐Capped CdTe Quantum Dots on Bovine Serum Albumin and Bovine Hemoglobin: Isothermal Titration Calorimetry and Spectroscopic Investigations

The interactions of N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine‐capped CdTe quantum dots (QDs) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and bovine hemoglobin (BHb) were investigated by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), fluorescence, synchronous fluorescence, fluorescence lifetime, ultraviolet–visible absorption, and circular dichroism techniques. Fluorescence data of BSA–QDs and BHb–QDs revealed that the quenching was static in every system. While CdTe QDs changed the microenvironment of tryptophan in BHb, the microenvironment of BSA kept unchanged. Adding CdTe QDs affected the skeleton and secondary structure of the protein (BSA and BHb). The ITC results indicated that the interaction between the protein (BSA and BHb) and QDs‐612 was spontaneous and the predominant force was hydrophobic interaction. In addition, the binding constants were determined to be 1.19 × 10⁵ L mol^?1 (BSA–QDs) and 2.19 × 10⁵ L mol^?1 (BHb–QDs) at 298 K. From these results, we conclude that CdTe QDs have a larger impact on the structure of BHb than BSA.     

Facile synthesis and photophysical characterization of luminescent CdTe quantum dots for Forster resonance energy transfer based immunosensing of staphylococcal enterotoxin B

Aqueous phase synthesis of CdTe quantum dots (QDs) with surface functionalization for bioconjugation remains the best approach for biosensing and bioimaging applications. We present a facile aqueous phase method to prepare CdTe QDs by adjusting precursor and ligand concentrations. CdTe QDs had photoluminescence quantum yield up to ≈33% with a narrow spectral distribution. The powder X‐ray diffraction profile elucidated characteristic broad peaks of zinc blende cubic CdTe nanoparticles with 2.5–3 nm average crystalline size having regular spherical morphology as revealed by transmission electron microscopy. Infra‐red spectroscopy confirmed disappearance of characteristic absorptions for –SH thiols inferring thiol coordinated CdTe nanoparticles. The effective molar concentration of 1 : 2.5 : 0.5 respectively for Cd²⁺/3‐mercaptopropionic acid/HTe^– at pH 9 ± 0.2 resulted in CdTe quantum dots of 2.2–3.06 nm having band gap in the range 2.74–2.26 eV respectively. Later, QD₅₂₃ and QD₆₀₁ were used for monitoring staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB; a bacterial superantigen responsible for food poisoning) using Forster resonance energy transfer based two QD fluorescence. QD₅₂₃ and QD₆₀₁ were bioconjugated to anti‐SEB IgY antibody and SEB respectively according to carbodiimide protocol. The mutual affinity between SEB and anti‐SEB antibody was relied upon to obtain efficient energy transfer between respective QDs resulting in fluorescence quenching of QD₅₂₃ and fluorescence enhancement of QD₆₀₁. Presence of SEB in the range 1–0.05 µg varied the rate of fluorescence quenching of QD₅₂₃, thereby demonstrating efficient use of QDs in the Forster resonance energy transfer based immunosensing method by engineering the QD size. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Studying nanotoxic effects of CdTe quantum dots in Trypanosoma cruzi

Semiconductor nanoparticles, such as quantum dots (QDs), were used to carry out experiments in vivo and ex vivo with Trypanosoma cruzi. However, questions have been raised regarding the nanotoxicity of QDs in living cells, microorganisms, tissues and whole animals. The objective of this paper was to conduct a QD nanotoxicity study on living T. cruzi protozoa using analytical methods. This was accomplished using in vitro experiments to test the interference of the QDs on parasite development, morphology and viability. Our results show that after 72 h, a 200 μM cadmium telluride (CdTe) QD solution induced important morphological alterations in T. cruzi, such as DNA damage, plasma membrane blebbing and mitochondrial swelling. Flow cytometry assays showed no damage to the plasma membrane when incubated with 200 μM CdTe QDs for up to 72 h (propidium iodide cells), giving no evidence of classical necrosis. Parasites incubated with 2 μM CdTe QDs still proliferated after seven days. In summary, a low concentration of CdTe QDs (2 μM) is optimal for bioimaging, whereas a high concentration (200 μM CdTe) could be toxic to cells. Taken together, our data indicate that 2 μM QD can be used for the successful long-term study of the parasite-vector interaction in real time.