In vitro reversible transformation of Leishmania braziliensis panamensis between promastigote and ellipsoidal forms.
Raising the temperature of a log-phase culture of Leishmania braziliensis panamensis promastigotes from 26 degrees C to 34 degrees C resulted in formation of a culture containing 85% ellipsoidally shaped forms after 1.5 h. The temperature-induced ellipsoidal forms decreased in size but persisted in high proportion (85-95%) for at least 12 h at 34 degrees C. Recovery from the ellipsoidal forms to a culture containing 85-95% promastigotes was observed after returning the temperature to 26 degrees C. The time required for recovery increased markedly with the duration of the preceding heat treatment, up to about 70 h for a 12-h heat treatment.
D000818:Animals; D005407:Flagella / Q000502:physiology; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007891:Leishmania / Q000166:cytology*; D007892:Leishmania braziliensis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement