Effects of Schistosoma mansoni infection on phagocytosis and killing of Proteus vulgaris in Biomphalaria glabrata hemocytes.
With the use of a fluorescence microassay, in vitro phagocytosis and killing of Proteus vulgaris were measured in hemocytes of NIH albino Biomphalaria glabrata infected with Schistosoma mansoni for 1, 2, 3, or 4 wk. Although hemocytes of infected snails displayed decreased phagocytosis, relative to hemocytes of uninfected snails, at 4 wk postinfection (PI), they exhibited enhanced microbicidal activity at 3 wk PI. No microbicidal activity was detected in the plasma of either infected or uninfected snails.
Douglas
J S
JS
Department of Biology, Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas 77710.
Hunt
M D
MD
Sullivan
J T
JT
D000818:Animals; D001700:Biomphalaria / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011514:Proteus vulgaris / Q000276:immunology*; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000276:immunology*