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Morphologic study of the effect of iron on pseudocyst formation in Trichomonas vaginalis and its interaction with human epithelial cells
BACKGROUND Trichomonas vaginalis is the aetiological agent of human trichomoniasis, which is one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted diseases in humans. Iron is an important element for the survival of this parasite and the colonisation of the host urogenital tract. OBJECTIVES In this study,...
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Published in: | Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 2019-05, Vol.112 (10) |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | BACKGROUND Trichomonas vaginalis is the aetiological agent of human
trichomoniasis, which is one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted
diseases in humans. Iron is an important element for the survival of
this parasite and the colonisation of the host urogenital tract.
OBJECTIVES In this study, we investigated the effects of iron on
parasite proliferation in the dynamics of pseudocyst formation and
morphologically characterised iron depletion-induced pseudocysts.
METHODS We performed structural and ultrastructural analyses using
light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission
electron microscopy. FINDINGS It was observed that iron depletion (i)
interrupts the proliferation of T. vaginalis, (ii) induces
morphological changes in typical multiplicative trophozoites to
spherical non-proliferative, non-motile pseudocysts, and (iii) induces
the arrest of cell division at different stages of the cell cycle; (iv)
iron is the fundamental element for the maintenance of typical
trophozoite morphology; (v) pseudocysts induced by iron depletion are
viable and reversible forms; and, finally, (vi) we demonstrated that
pseudocysts induced by iron depletion are able to interact with human
epithelial cells maintaining their spherical forms. MAIN CONCLUSIONS
Together, these data suggest that pseudocysts could be induced as a
response to iron nutritional stress and could have a potential role in
the transmission and infection of T. vaginalis. |
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ISSN: | 1678-8060 |