R. Wernermeier et R. Entzeroth, DIFFUSION OF MICROINJECTED MARKERS ACROSS THE PARASITOPHOROUS VACUOLEMEMBRANE IN CELLS INFECTED WITH EIMERIA-NIESCHULZI (COCCIDIA, APICOMPLEXA), Parasitology research, 83(6), 1997, pp. 611-613
Cells infected with the intracellular parasite Eimeria nieschulzi were
microinjected with lucifer yellow (457 Da), biocytin lucifer yellow (
850 Da) and dextranrhodamine (10,000 Da). Immediately after injection
of a mixture of the markers into the host cell cytoplasm, a differenti
al diffusion pattern was observed in trophozoites and schizonts. Lucif
er yellow and biotin lucifer yellow were seen to enter the parasitopho
rous vacuole, whereas the dextran was excluded. Since these markers ca
nnot permeate cell membranes, this suggests that the Eimerian parasito
phorous vacuole acts as a molecular sieve. This method allows the visu
alization and further characterization of the parasitophorous vacuole
in living cells.