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Lectins discriminate between pathogenic and nonpathogenic South American trypanosomes

Journal Article · · Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5973718

Cell surface carbohydrates of Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma rangeli, and Trypanosoma conorhini were analyzed by a micro-agglutination assay employing 27 highly purified lectins and by binding assays using various /sup 125/I-labeled lectins. The following seven lectins discriminated between the trypanosomes: 1) tomato lectin (an N-acetyl-D-glucosamine-binding protein), both in purified form and as crude tomato juice; 2) Bauhinea purpurea and Sophora japonica lectins (both N-acetyl-D-galactosamine-binding proteins), which selectively agglutinated T. cruzi; 3) Vicia villosa (an N-acetyl-D-galactosamine-binding protein) which was specific for T. rangeli; 4) peanut lectin (a D-galactose-binding protein) both in purified form and as crude saline extract; and 5) Ulex europaeus and Lotus tetragonolobus (both L-fucose-binding proteins) lectins which reacted only with T. conorhini. Binding studies with 125I-labeled lectins were performed to find whether unagglutinated cells of the three different species of trypanosomes might have receptors for these lectins, in which case absence of agglutination could be due to a peculiar arrangement of the receptors. These assays essentially confirmed the agglutination experiments.

Research Organization:
Tufts Univ. School of Medicine, Boston, MA
OSTI ID:
5973718
Journal Information:
Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg.; (United States) Vol. 33:5; ISSN AJTHA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English