Characterization of the Surfaces of 'Trypanosoma cruzi' and 'Leishmania enriettii' Parasites.

摘要

The conditions for culture, the morphology, and the surface charge characteristics of the various morphologic forms of T. cruzi were studied. The results indicate that HeLa cells were better than HEp-2 cells for production of trypomastigotes and amastigotes. Morphologic studies by scanning and freeze clearing provide three-dimensional images of the parasites which are in essential agreement with our concepts of the parasites structure obtained by study with more conventional techniques of microscopy. The results of the studies of surface charge characteristics indicate that at pH 8 the surfaces of all three forms are negatively charged. Trypomastigotes have, however, less net negative charge than epimastigotes while cell culture amastigotes have charges similar to those on trypomastigotes. Amastigoids and sphaeromastigotes from cell free cultures have the charge characteristics of epimastigotes. (Author)