title: Trypanosoma cruzi and erythrocyte agglutinins: a comparative study of occurrence and properties in the gut and hemolymph of Rhodnius prolixus.
abstract: The activity of agglutinins found in the gut tissues and hemolymph of Rhodnius prolixus was tested using rabbit erythrocytes, Trypanosoma cruzi, or Trypanosoma rangeli as test particles. In addition, investigations were made of the influence of parasitic infection and insect diet on the agglutination titers. A range of physicochemical tests and carbohydrate-binding studies were performed and inhibitors were subsequently found for both the crop agglutinin (p-nitrophenol-derived sugars) and the hemolymph agglutinin (galactose-type sugars). As a result, affinity chromatography was utilized for an attempted purification of these agglutinins, and a one-step purification protocol for the R. prolixus hemolymph agglutinin has been developed. Preliminary results of some biological and physicochemical characteristics of this pure agglutinin are described. These results represent a starting point for future studies of lectin/parasite interaction in this reduviid-trypanosome model.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales Swansea, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ratcliffe
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nigam
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Mello
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Azambuja
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D004064:Digestive System / Q000378:metabolism; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D011402:Pronase / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D012239:Rhodnius / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D013552:Swine; D013696:Temperature; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000378:metabolism*; D014357:Trypsin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006388:Hemagglutinins; D014357:Trypsin; D011402:Pronase