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Characterization of Trichomonas vaginalis haemolysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

D. C. Dailey
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
C. Te-Hung
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
J. F. Alderete
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA.

Extract

The haemolytic activity of live Trichomonas vaginalis organisms was investigated. Optimal haemolysis of human erythrocytes was observed at a parasite to erythrocyte ratio of 1:5 during a 2 h incubation period. No haemolytic activity was detected in concentrated culture supernatants after overnight growth of trichomonads or when parasites were separated from erythrocytes by a 3 μm filter, suggesting a contact-dependent mechanism for haemolysis. The haemolytic activity was temperature-dependent and maximal haemolysis occurred at 37 °C. Treatment of trichomonads with metronidazole reduced levels of haemolysis by > 50%. Maximal haemolysis occurred at the pH range of the vagina during trichomoniasis. N-μ-tosyl-L-lysyl-chloromethyl ketone and iodoacetamide, inhibitors of trichomonad cysteine proteinases, reduced the haemolytic activity of live parasites.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

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