Biochemical and ultrastructural study of the interaction process between Rhodnius

prolixus and Trypanosoma rangeli

Universidad del Este

Kate Katherine da Silva Batista

Hesse do Nascimento Lima

What is Chagas disease?

Where is Chagas disease?

Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, RJ, BR. (Comunicacion / Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) – July 6th, 2011 [Nature: Chagas disease: a new worldwide challege ] – José Rodrigues Coura

Internal Anatomy of Rhodnius prolixus

Life cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi

The interaction of T. cruzi in the intestine of Triatoma infestans

Picture Notes:

The presence of Trypanosoma cruzi in the intestinal tract does not eliminate the presence of microvilli and therefore does not significantly alter the absorption of food.

The maintenance of the extracellular membrane covering the surface of intestinal cells probably ensures the protection of these cells againstinvading parasites.

Overall Objectives:

Study the life cycle of Rhodinus prolixus infected by Trypanosoma rangeli to identify potencial control to this vector of Chagas disease

Check the viability of use of similiar Trypanosoma (Trypanosoma rangeli) and pathogenic to the vector like as possibility to reduce the increase of chagas disease caused by Tryponosoma cruzi.

Life cycle of Trypanosoma rangeli

1. Ingestion

2. Previous midgut*

3. Posterior midgut

4. Hemolymph

5. Salivary gland*

Materials and methods Processing for light microscopy and electron microscopy

Insect males, 10 days after feeding

The insects are dissected and the intestines processed 3, 5, 7, 10 and 15 days after feeding.

Artificial feeding to infect the insects with Trypanosoma rangeli SC/58 in LIT medium (Liver Infusion Tryptose) or rabbit blood infected.

Elói Garcia, FIOCRUZ, 2007.

Interaction of T. rangeli in the salivary glands of Rhodnius prolixus

Meirelles, 2005.

Wanderley de Souza, 2001.

Interaction of T. rangeli in the posterior Intestine of Rhodnius prolixus

Marcelo S. Gonzalez, FIOCRUZ, 2006.

Interaction of T. rangeli in the posterior Intestine of Rhodnius prolixus

Interaction of T. rangeli in the posterior Intestine of Rhodnius prolixus

Interaction of T. rangeli in the posterior Intestine of Rhodnius prolixus

Interaction of T. rangeli in the posterior Intestine of Rhodnius prolixus

Conclusions of the ultrastructure

•The disappearance of microvilli and extracellular membrane in some regions of the cell surface may facilitate cell invasion by T. rangeli.

• The pathogenicity of T. rangeli the insect vector must be related both to undernutrition caused by intestinal disorders and immunodeficiency caused by the destruction of erythrocytes by the parasite.

• What happens to agglutinate extracellular membranes in the presence of this specie of trypanosomatídeo?

Currently, this hypothesis is being worked

Probably Trypanosoma rangeli secrets any lectin (protein with the action of specific recognition of carbohydrates with more than one binding site) capable of binding extracellular glycoproteins in the membranes.

Specific objectives and future proposal:

• To study the morphological and cytochemical occurring on the surface of intestinal epithelial cells during the interaction Trypanosoma rangeli / Rhodnius prolixus by transmission electron microscopy;

• Investigate among the proteins secreted by T. rangeli were proteins with lectin activity that may participate in a process of assemblage of extracellular membranes during the process of intestinal invasion.

• Isolate and purify protein rangelisina;

• Map the location of rangelisina in the process of the parasite gut epithelial cells of Rhodnius prolixus by transmission electron microscopy;

Thanks