Intraspecific variation in Trypanosoma cruzi: effect of temperature on the intracellular differentiation in tissue culture.
Inhibition of T. cruzi amastigote-trypomastigote differentiation in tissue culture at 37 C is a strain-dependent event. When eight T. cruzi strains were submitted to two environmental temperatures (33 and 37 C), the following patterns of differentiation were obtained: in three strains, transformation was inhibited at 37 C but readily occurred at 33 C; in three other strains differentiation took place at both temperatures; finally, in the two remaining strains, a partial inhibition was detected at 37 C. The authors discuss the meaning of this intraspecific variation and the possible relationship with the occurrence of temperature-sensitive mutants among protozoa.
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005407:Flagella; D008297:Male; D013696:Temperature; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000254:growth & development*