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Trypanosoma cruzi Infection of BSC‐1 Fibroblast Cells Causes Cytoskeletal Disruption and Changes in Intracellular Calcium Levels
Author(s) -
LOW HOI PANG,
PAULIN JEROME J.,
KEITH CHARLES H.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
the journal of protozoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 0022-3921
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1992.tb04833.x
Subject(s) - trypanosoma cruzi , cytoskeleton , intracellular , calcium in biology , fibroblast , microbiology and biotechnology , calcium , chemistry , biology , cell , cell culture , biochemistry , genetics , parasite hosting , computer science , organic chemistry , world wide web
The disruption of vimentin and actin filaments of host BSC‐1 fibroblast cells by Trypanosoma cruzi was investigated using a mouse monoclonal anti‐vimentin antibody and rhodamine phalloidin, respectively. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that infection of BSC‐1 cells by T. cruzi caused disruption of both cytoskeletal components. The disruption was greater as infection progressed. Mechanisms other than mechanical ones may play a role in the disruption since disrupted cytoskelelal elements were well removed from the parasites. In the determination of intracellular calcium concentrations using Fura‐2 AM, infected and uninfected cells both showed an initial increase in intracellular calcium levels. At later times of infection (3 to 5 days), intracellular calcium levels of infected cells were significantly lower than those of control cells. There was no specific localization of intracellular calcium in the infected host cells as determined by image analysis.