title: Trypanosoma cruzi: inhibition of metacyclogenesis by mannose.
abstract: Metacyclogenesis of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes was evaluated in a medium supplemented with Triatoma infestans intestinal homogenate in the presence of sugars and derivates as are mannose, galactose, fucose, N-acetylglucosamine, mannose 6-P, and fructose 1,6-P at a concentration of 25 mM. Only mannose significantly inhibited metacyclogenesis. Sodium metaperiodate and trypsin treatment of the intestinal homogenate also inhibited differentiation. In our opinion there exists a proteinic factor in the intestine of the vector that promotes metacyclogenesis and is incorporated by the parasite. Treatment of the intestinal homogenate with alkaline phosphatase had no effect. Instead, high ionic strength in the medium (0.4 M NaCl) strongly inhibited metacyclogenesis indicating that, in these conditions, the possible binding of the differentiation factor to the parasite surface was inhibited.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Histología y Embriología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Lammel
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Isola
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bertini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D008358:Mannose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010504:Periodic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D014357:Trypsin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D010504:Periodic Acid; D012965:Sodium Chloride; C009288:metaperiodate; D014357:Trypsin; D008358:Mannose