M. Benchimol et W. Desouza, CARBOHYDRATE INVOLVEMENT IN THE ASSOCIATION OF A PROKARYOTIC CELL WITH TRICHOMONAS-VAGINALIS AND TRITRICHOMONAS-FETUS, Parasitology research, 81(6), 1995, pp. 459-464
Previous studies have shown that Trichomonas vaginalis are capable of
ingesting bacteria. This observation was confirmed in the present stud
y and extended to Tritrichomonas foetus. Using a special strain of Esc
herichia coli grown under conditions that produced fimbriae presenting
a lectin-like molecule recognizing mannose, we showed that the bacter
ia attached to and were ingested by trichomonads through a mechanism i
nvolving cell-to-cell recognition. Absence of the fimbriae or addition
of alpha-methyl-D-mannoside to the interaction medium blocked attachm
ent of the bacteria to the protozoa cell surface. Ingested bacteria we
re later digested within the cytoplasmic vacuole.