Wuchereria bancrofti: freeze-fracture study of the epicuticle of microfilariae.
The freeze-fracture technique was used to analyze the surface of microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti. The examination of thin sections showed that the epicuticle is formed by two closely apposed membrane-like structures, appearing as hepta-laminated structures. Freeze-fracture replicas revealed the presence of two fracture faces. The outer one is smooth but presents rosette-like structures. The inner face, which is in contact with the hypodermal cells, presents a large number of particles.
Departamento de Parasitologia e Biofisica Celular, Instituto de Biofisica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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de Souza
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Souto-Padron
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Dreyer
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de Andrade
D000818:Animals; D005614:Freeze Fracturing; D008842:Microfilariae / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti / Q000648:ultrastructure*