Fine structure of metacyclic forms of Trypanosoma brucei grown in continuous culture. 1980

M Nyindo, and M Chimtawi, and J Owor

The fine structure of metacyclic forms of Trypanosoma brucei propagated in vitro for about 300 days was studied. It was shown that the long and slender parasites possessed a surface coat over the plasma membrane and had many peroxisome-like bodies. The Golgi complex was active and the rough endoplasmic reticulum was prominent. The short and stout parasites originally referred to as "intermediate type" lacked a surface coat, but their cytoplasm contained many lipid inclusions and few peroxisome-like bodies. Like the slender type of parasites, the short and stout ones had very active Golgi complexes and associated vesicles. When these features were compared with those of parasites in infected salivary glands fixed in situ, it was apparent that parasites in the gland canal had similarities with the slender forms cultured in vitro, whereas those found adjacent or attached to the salivary gland epithelium corresponded to the short and stout parasites. Bloodstream forms of the parasite had some features common to the slender parasites grown in culture. These observations suggest that metacyclic trypanosomes cultured in vitro, or those which grow in the tsetse salivary glands, possess the glycerophosphate oxidase enzyme which is probably involved in the utilization of a carbohydrate source.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007814 Larva Wormlike or grublike stage, following the egg in the life cycle of insects, worms, and other metamorphosing animals. Maggots,Tadpoles,Larvae,Maggot,Tadpole
D008830 Microbodies Electron-dense cytoplasmic particles bounded by a single membrane, such as PEROXISOMES; GLYOXYSOMES; and glycosomes. Glycosomes,Glycosome,Microbody
D008854 Microscopy, Electron Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen. Electron Microscopy
D008928 Mitochondria Semiautonomous, self-reproducing organelles that occur in the cytoplasm of all cells of most, but not all, eukaryotes. Each mitochondrion is surrounded by a double limiting membrane. The inner membrane is highly invaginated, and its projections are called cristae. Mitochondria are the sites of the reactions of oxidative phosphorylation, which result in the formation of ATP. They contain distinctive RIBOSOMES, transfer RNAs (RNA, TRANSFER); AMINO ACYL T RNA SYNTHETASES; and elongation and termination factors. Mitochondria depend upon genes within the nucleus of the cells in which they reside for many essential messenger RNAs (RNA, MESSENGER). Mitochondria are believed to have arisen from aerobic bacteria that established a symbiotic relationship with primitive protoeukaryotes. (King & Stansfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed) Mitochondrial Contraction,Mitochondrion,Contraction, Mitochondrial,Contractions, Mitochondrial,Mitochondrial Contractions
D002455 Cell Division The fission of a CELL. It includes CYTOKINESIS, when the CYTOPLASM of a cell is divided, and CELL NUCLEUS DIVISION. M Phase,Cell Division Phase,Cell Divisions,Division Phase, Cell,Division, Cell,Divisions, Cell,M Phases,Phase, Cell Division,Phase, M,Phases, M
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014346 Trypanosoma brucei brucei A hemoflagellate subspecies of parasitic protozoa that causes nagana in domestic and game animals in Africa. It apparently does not infect humans. It is transmitted by bites of tsetse flies (Glossina). Trypanosoma brucei,Trypanosoma brucei bruceus,Trypanosoma bruceus,brucei brucei, Trypanosoma,brucei, Trypanosoma brucei,bruceus, Trypanosoma,bruceus, Trypanosoma brucei
D014370 Tsetse Flies Bloodsucking flies of the genus Glossina, found primarily in equatorial Africa. Several species are intermediate hosts of trypanosomes. Glossina,Flies, Tsetse,Fly, Tsetse,Glossinas,Tsetse Fly

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