Predicted changes in selected homeostatic variables of

P falciparum–infected red cells during the asexual reproduction cycle of the parasite. The panels show the predicted changes in (A) host cell Na⁺ and K⁺concentrations and (B) Hb content (Hb) and concentration ([Hb]); Hb content is expressed per 1013 cells, the approximate number of cells contained in 1 liter of normal, uninfected human red cells. (C) Relative cell volume of IRBCs (▾) and relative host (○) and parasite (●) volumes; all volumes are expressed relative to RBC volume at the time of invasion, defined as 1. The horizontal top line in panel C indicates the mean critical hemolytic RCV,29 and the vertical right hand line indicates the 48-hour end of the asexual cycle.