Vsp gene expression by Giardia lamblia clone GS/M-83-H7 during antigenic variation in vivo and in vitro.

ABSTRACT: Giardia lamblia infections are associated with antigenic variation of the parasite, which is generated by a continuous change of the variant-specific surface proteins (VSPs). Many investigations on the process of antigenic variation were based on the use of G. lamblia clone GS/M-83-H7, which expresses VSP H7 as its major surface antigen. In the present study, mice were infected with the aforementioned clonal line to investigate vsp gene expression during the complex process of antigenic variation of the parasite. Trophozoites collected from the intestines of individual animals at different time points postinfection (p.i.) were analyzed directly for their vsp gene expression patterns, i.e., without cultivating the recovered parasites in vitro. Because few trophozoites were recovered at late

SUBMITTER: Bienz M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC98636 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature