The development of Trypanosoma brucei within the tsetse fly midgut observed using green fluorescent trypanosomes.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The protozoan pathogen, Trypanosoma brucei, undergoes complex cycles of differentiation and multiplication in its vector, the tsetse fly, genus Glossina. Flies are refractory to infection and resistance mechanisms operate at a number of levels and timepoints. Here we have used highly conspicuous green fluorescent trypanosomes to study the early events in establishment of infection in the fly midgut. RESULTS: Less than 10% of the bloodstream form trypanosomes in the infected feed differentiated into viable procyclics. Up to day 3, trypanosomes were found in the bloodmeal in every fly examined, and increased in number between days 1 and 3. Flies dissected on days 5 and 6 fell into 2 clearly distinct groups: those with high numbers of trypanosomes and those with undetectable infec

SUBMITTER: Gibson W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC156611 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature