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D Afchain

Publications and source records attributed to D Afchain.

49 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[Comparative immunoelectrophoretic analysis of culture and bloodstream forms of "trypanosoma" (Trypanozoon) brucei gambiense". Demonstration of stage and antigenic type specific antigens (author's transl)].

The comparative immunoelectrophoretic analysis of the antigenic structures of culture and bloodstream forms with cross absorption tests confirm the existence among Trypanosoma gambiense antigens of: --numerous antigenic components common to culture and bloodstream forms;--several antigenic components specific of either culture forms or bloodstream forms. Among the latter, two components are shown to be specific of the antigenic type and appear to support the immunochemical specificity of each variant.

Animals↗

Specific IgE antibodies to Leishmania braziliensis in patients with mucocutaneous leishmaniasis.

A total of 116 sera of patients suffering from South American mucocutaneous leishmaniasis were analysed using the RAST (L. braziliensis-specific) and RIST techniques. Results of total and specific IgE levels were correlated with different clinical stages of the disease. The level of total and specific IgE appeared to be higher among patients with cutaneous ulcers than among those presenting mucocutaneous lesions, i.e. espundia. Furthermore, non-treated patients presented higher concentrations of total and specific IgE than did treated ones.

Antibody Specificity↗

Fibronectin receptors on Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes and their biological function.

Successful invasion of mammalian cells by pathogenic parasites is generally considered, from circumstantial evidence, to be a consequence of specific mechanisms of recognition of cell surface components--this has stimulated investigations of the biochemical characterization of such molecules. Several studied of trypanosomiasis have examined the ability of parasites to interact with mammalian cells. However, knowledge of the mammalian cell surface 'receptors' which interact with the parasite is limited. We now report that fibronectin, which is a high molecular weight glycoprotein present in blood, connective tissue and at cell surfaces, binds specifically to Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes. The reaction is specific, reversible (in the presence of a 100-fold molar excess of unlabelled ligand) and of moderate affinity (Kd = 11.36 nM). Various other proteins (for example, thyroglobulin, ferritin, catalase, aldolase, human IgG and bovine serum albumin) had no significant effect on the binding of labelled ligand to the parasite surface. Addition of anti-fibronectin antibodies to the culture medium significantly inhibited the infection of rat fibroblasts (3T3 FR) by T. cruzi trypomastigotes, suggesting that cell surface fibronectin may act as a recognition site for attachment of the parasites.

Animals↗