Immunological activities of monoclonal IgG1 antibody against Trypanosoma gambiense.

The present paper deals with the immune reaction between a monoclonal IgG1 antibody and Trypanosoma gambiense. The aggregation of trypanosomes, immune adherence to macrophages and protection against infection are associated with the antibody. IgG1-mediated clumping of trypanosomes is readily dissociated by the addition of complement. Dissociation of the clumped trypanosomes in the equivalence area released approximately fifty percent of previously bound surface antigens. These antigens were capable of binding again to new IgG1 antibody. Complement deposition rendered bivalent IgG1 antibody in the immune complex functionally univalent. Such an event in the presence of complement is of great advantage to the infected host in killing pathogens in vivo, as it allows more antibodies to attach to surface antigens and subsequently to initiate complement activity.

Diversity of complement-mediated immune reaction to Trypanosoma gambiense.

Intact and papain-treated Trypanosoma gambiense clone populations, each expressing special antigens on their cell surfaces, were mixed with rabbit antiserum in the presence of complement. Two distinct types of immune reaction between trypanosomes and antisera were observed: clumping followed by dissociation (CD) and inhibition of aggregation (IA). Special antigens on the cell surface of trypanosomes exposed after papain digestion are implicated in both types of immune reaction. IA was considered to be more effective as an immunological response which would allow the infected host to clear the pathogen without any obstruction of capillaries and impairment of blood flow caused by clumping masses of trypanosomes.

An effective axenic culture system for Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense blood stream forms in vitro.

An effective axenic culture system for Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (ILRAD 1501) bloodstream forms is demonstrated. Bloodstream forms were continuously grown in 25 mM HEPES-buffered D-MEM supplemented with 10 microM bathocuproine sulfonate (BCS), 100 microM cysteine, and 20% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum at 37 degrees C in vitro. At the initiation of the culture, T. b. rhodesiense bloodstream forms required the presence of 0.2 IU/ml insulin and 1 mM pyruvate, while bloodstream forms were grown in the culture medium without these supplements 4 days after initiation of the culture. Under this culture condition, T. b. rhodesiense bloodstream forms increased in number to 7 to 8 x 10(6) trypanosomes/ml, by day 4 after initiation of the culture. The trypanosomes cultured in this axenic system for 150 days were typically long and slender and retained their virulence for mice. This axenic culture system is extremely useful for in vitro cloning of T. b. rhodesiense bloodstream forms in vitro.

The successful system in long-term cultivation of Trypanosoma gambiense bloodstream forms.

Rat astroglioma cell line (GA-1) was extremely useful for long-term in vitro cultivation of Trypanosoma gambiense blood-stream forms. Parasites could be continuously grown at 37 degrees C for more than 200 days in the culture system, consisted of HEPES-buffered RPMI 1640 (pH 7.2, 300 milliosmole/kg) supplemented with 20% inactivated fetal calf serum in the presence of GA-1 cells. Parasites cultured for more than 200 days still retained not only their virulence for mice but also their original antigenic type. Morphologically, they resembled host infected bloodstream forms by way of having a subterminal kinetoplast and surface coat. The best growth rate of trypanosomes was obtained with 1 X 10(6) GA-1 cells/25 cm2 culture flask. Under this culture condition trypomastigote form populations increased in number up to 7-8 X 10(6) trypanosomes/ml by day 3 after initiation of the culture. The population doubling time in this culture system within the first 24 hours was almost the same as in mice. Most of the cultured trypanosomes were in suspension, but 15-20% of the parasites adhered to the surface of GA-1 cells. The culture system was also shown to be useful for cloning of T. gambiense which is important for separation of mutants.