Trypanosoma cruzi clone Dm 28c metacyclic trypomastigotes obtained in chemically defined media reproduced the biological behavior and high infectivity of T. cruzi.
The Dm 28c clone of T. cruzi cultured in chemically defined media behaves as a bona fide representative of the parasite, making it a suitable model for studying cell-parasite interactions.
The biological characterization of the Trypanosoma cruzi clone Dm 28c in terms of its growth in LIT medium, cell-cycle, infectivity to mice and interaction with professional and non-professional phagocytic cells shows that it behaves as a bona fide T. cruzi representant. The biological properties of this myotropic clone do not change according to the origin of the trypomastigote forms (i. e., from triatomines, infected mice, cell-culture or from the chemically defined TAUP and TAU3AAG media). In addition Dm 28c metacyclic trypomastigotes from TAU3AAG medium display a high infectivity level to fibroblasts and muscle cells. Experiments on binding of cationized ferritin to trypomastigotes surface show the existence of cap-like structures of ferritin in regions near the kinetoplast, however the nature and role of these anionic sites remain to be determined. The results indicate that metacyclic trypomastigotes from the Dm 28c clone obtained under chemically defined conditions reproduce the biological behaviour of T. cruzi, rendering this system very suitable for the study of cell-parasite interactions and for the isolation of trypanosome relevant macromolecules.
Contreras et al. (1988) studied Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Chemically defined media (TAUP and TAU3AAG) vs. Other sources of trypomastigotes (triatomines, infected mice, cell-culture) was evaluated on Biological properties and infectivity. Trypanosoma cruzi clone Dm 28c metacyclic trypomastigotes obtained in chemically defined media reproduced the biological behavior and high infectivity of T. cruzi.