Dynamics of the interaction between Entamoeba histolytica and components of the immune response.
Trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica redistributed specific antibodies reacting to antigens on their surface. The presence of a second layer of anti-antibodies enhanced the redistribution of anti-amoeba antibodies but was not a prerequisite for this process. Microfluorometric measurements of the fluorescence intensity in different areas of the cell surface provided objective evidence for the antibody-induced redistribution. In order to distinguish surface-bound and internalized anti-amoeba antibodies, the trophozoites were fixed in PFA. This fixation made the cells impermeable to antibodies. Thus, after fixation in PFA at different times during the redistribution process surface-bound anti-amoeba antibodies labelled with one fluorochrome could be detected with anti-bodies labelled with another fluorochrome. This approach showed that the amoeba, in addition to the redistribution, also internalized anti-amoeba antibodies.
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000276:immunology*; D005404:Fixatives; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D011817:Rabbits; D012756:Sheep
D005404:Fixatives