ANALYSIS OF THE VARIABLE ANTIGEN COMPOSITION OF TRYPANOSOMA-BRUCEI-BRUCEI METACYCLIC TRYPANOSOMES USING MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 40  (1) , 19-24
Abstract
The metacyclic trypanosomes of a T. brucei brucei clone (ILTat 2.1) were analyzed with regard to their variable antigen (VAT) composition using monoclonal antibodies. The metacyclic population was antigenically heterogeneous. Despite the heterogeneity, the overall VAT composition of the metacyclic population appeared to be limited in number. A similar pattern of reactivity was observed when the monoclonal antibodies were tested on metacyclics of another clone (ILTat 2.2) derived from a rabbit 30 days after infection with ILTat 2.1 as well as those of the parent stock (STIB 247). The VAT characteristics of the metacyclics of this serodeme were consistent regardless of whether they were transmitted by Glossina morsitans, morsitans or G. morsitans centralis. The monoclonal antibodies also reacted with some of the bloodstream VAT isolated within 72 h from cyclically infected mice. None of the monoclonal antibodies reacted with metacyclics of a different stock (LUMP 227).