[In vitro S. mansoni miracidia transformation (author's transl)]. / Evolution in vitro des miracidiums de Schistosoma mansoni.

Miracidia de S. mansoni hatched and collected aseptically are able to survive in vitro in suitable media. Development of the miracidia is observed in the same manner that occurs in vivo. They shed their ciliated epidermal cell and miracidium-sporocyst transformation occurs. 30% of the miracidia explanted are transformed in primary sporocystes into 48 h. and are still alive a week later.

[Cellular immunity in mollusk hosts of schistosomes. Primary results regarding Biomphalaria glabrata]. / Exploration de l'immunité cellulaire chez les mollusques hôtes des schistosomes. Premiers résultats relatifs a Biomphalaria glabrata.

Cell culture are obtained from the saccular part of the kidney of Biomphalaria glabrata in a medium derived from Schneider drosophilia medium. Two types of cells migrate from the explant: numerous amoebocytes and some fibroblasts. Migration of amoebocytes appears to be regular. These amoebocytes are able to encapsulate and destroy particules and dead miracidiums. Amoebocytes from incompatible snails rapidly surround miracidiums and early larvae (primary sporocysts) whereas compatible miracidiums develop without amoebocyte reaction.

[Phospholipid antigens acquired by the young forms of Schistosoma mansoni]. / Acquisition d'antigènes phospholipidiques par les formes jeunes de Schistosoma mansoni.

Immunofluorescence studies provide evidence of cardiolipin fixation at the schistosomulum's surface, following incubation with liposomes (cardiolipin-lecithin or cardiolipin-lecithin added with cholesterol). Fixation occurs at 37 degrees C as well as at 0 degree C whether proteins were present or not. Several washes do not remove cardiolipin fixation.

[Cell culture of snails. Their use in the study of immunologic host-parasite relationships in schistosomiasis]. / Culture de cellules de planorbes. Leur utilisation dans l'étude des relations immunologiques hote-parasite dans la schistosomose

The host-parasite relationship between Schistosoma mansoni and the snail Biomphalaria glabrata is so complex that its experimental study needs some particularly working methods: for instance molluscan organs and tissue's cultures. In the experiment described we report that digestive gland's cells cultures were grown on synthetic cultural medium. This one contained a physiological salt solution and a basal nutrient medium consisting of foetal calf serum, chicken embryo extract and amino-acids. In this case we observed good growth and multiplication of the digestive gland cells. This preliminary experiment has to be used in immunological studies regarding the origin and the mode of acquisition of the snail antigen by the cercariae membrane.