Trypanosoma rangeli sialidase: lack of activity in stocks from Panama and other regions

• Main Authors: Octavio E Sousa, Maritza Lombardo, Azael Saldaña
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde 2005-05-01
• Series: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz.
• Subjects: Trypanosoma rangeli; sialidase; heterogeneity
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0074-02762005000300004

A total of 33 crude and cloned Trypanosoma rangeli stocks found as natural infections in human from Panama and other endemic areas of Central and South America were evaluated as producers of sialidase (SA) activity through the MU-NANA fluorescence test. Negative results were observed in 6 of the isolates: Panama (4), Honduras (1), and Brazil (1). In addition, an immunoblotting analysis confirm the presence of the SA antigen in these stocks without enzymatic activity. These findings must be considered in the interpretation of the biological significance of T. rangeli SA and in the proper characterization and identification of this parasite.