M. Benchimol et al., ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF ZINC ON TRITRICHOMONAS-FETUS, Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy, 37(12), 1993, pp. 2722-2726
At concentrations of 3.1 to 24 mM, zinc inhibits the multiplication of
and kills the pathogenic protozoan Tritrichomonas foetus. Transmissio
n electron microscopy showed that the hydrogenosome, a organelle which
is involved in the metabolism of pyruvate and the site of formation o
f molecular hydrogen, constitutes the main site of the initial effect
of zinc. The hydrogenosomal vesicle increases its electron density and
dimension. Electron spectroscopy imaging and the electron energy loss
spectrum showed the presence of zinc, calcium, and oxygen in the elec
tron-dense areas of the hydrogenosome.