title: Trichomonas vaginalis haemolysis: evidence of functional pores formation on red cell membranes.
abstract: We have investigated the mechanisms used by Trichomonas vaginalis to damage cellular membranes, using human erythrocytes as target cells. Haemolysis is a contact- and temperature-dependent phenomenon, and is inhibited in 4 mM EGTA. Osmotic protection experiments using carbohydrates with different molecular diameters as protectants demonstrated that the cytolytic activity of T. vaginalis is inhibited in 75 mM stachyose. On the basis of our data, we hypothesize a cytopathic mechanism mediated by the formation of functional pores into the target membrane. Some of the Trichomonas protein involved in haemolysis have been immunologically characterized.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Virology, University of Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Fiori
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rappelli
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rocchigiani
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cappuccinelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000469:parasitology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008954:Models, Biological; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009995:Osmosis; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D014247:Trichomonas Vaginitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000469:parasitology; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D015800:Protozoan Proteins