TRICHOMONAS-VAGINALIS HEMOLYSIS - EVIDENCE OF FUNCTIONAL PORES FORMATION ON RED-CELL MEMBRANES

We have investigated the mechanisms used by Trichomonas vaginalis to d amage cellular membranes, using human erythrocytes as target cells. Ha emolysis is a contact- and temperature-dependent phenomenon, and is in hibited in 4 mM EGTA. Osmotic protection experiments using carbohydrat es with different molecular diameters as protectants demonstrated that the cytolytic activity of T. vaginalis is inhibited in 75 mM stachyos e. On the basis of our data, we hypothesize a cytopathic mechanism med iated by the formation of functional pores into the target membrane. S ome of the Trichomonas protein involved in haemolysis have been immuno logically characterized.