Reversible acquisition of a host cell surface membrane antigen by Trypanosoma cruzi

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Abstract
The ability of T. cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas'' disease, to acquire host cell surface antigen was tested. Parasites emerging after intracelllar replication in WOS [human osteogenic sarcoma mesoderma cell line] sarcoma monolayers expressed a sarcoma-associated surface antigen. This antigen was deleted from these parasites after replication in the MNS [human mesodermal spindle cell line] control monolayer, which does not express WOS sarcoma-associated surface antigen, or by replication in cell-free medium. This type of reversible acquisition of host surface antigen was not previously described in T. cruzi or other intracellular protozoan parasites.