Protozoa, Trypanosoma, & Antigenic Variation Flashcards
What is the kinetoplast, where is it found, and what function does it have?
what - disk of interlocking DNA circles (kDNA) where - along inner surface in mitochondria function - mitochondrial transformation between life cycle forms
What are the 2 components of kDNA and how are they arranged?
- maxi-circles: ~50 copies
- mini-copies: 5000-10000 copies
arrangement - concatenated mass of interconnected complex networks
What is a basal body and where is it found?
what - anchors flagellum
where - outer surface of mitochondrial membrane
always close to kinetoplast
What are the 3 major kinetoplastid infections in humans?
- human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT)
- Chagas’ disease
- Leishmaniasis
What 4 morphological forms can occur in the various kinetoplastid life cycles?
- amastigote - no flagellum
- promastigote - flagellum, in vector
- epimastigote - undulating membrane
- trypomastigote
What is the function of the glycosome?
glycolysis
How do the functions of the glycosome and mitochondrion change as the parasite switches between hosts?
mammals - environment is rich in glucose so ATP only through glycolysis
mitochondria repressed
lacks components of CAC & ETC
no oxidative phosphorylation
insects - low glucose so mitochondria is activated
glycosomes decrease enzymes
Does the amastigote have a flagellum?
no
Does the amastigote have a nucleus?
yes
Does the promastigote have a flagellum?
yes
Does the promastigote have an undulating membrane?
no
Where is the promastigote found?
insect vector
Are the kinetoplast/basal body anterior or posterior to the nucleus in the promastigote?
kinetoplast/basal body at anterior end in front of nucleus
Does the epimastigote have a flagellum?
yes
Does the epimastigote have an undulating membrane?
yes
Are the kinetoplast/basal body anterior or posterior to the nucleus in the epimastigote?
kinetoplast/basal body at anterior end in front of nucleus
Does the trypomastigote have a flagellum?
yes
Does the trypomastigote have an undulating membrane
yes
Are the kinetoplast/basal body anterior or posterior to the nucleus in the trypomastigote?
posterior to nucleus
What are the 4 basic types of trypomastigote?
- long and slender - mammals
- stumpy - in mammal, infective to host
- procyclic - insect
- metacyclic - in insect, infective to mammal
Into what 2 sections is the genus Trypanosoma divided?
- Salivaria
2. Stercoraria
Section Salivaria is also known as
Anterior Station Development
Species in Salivaria develop in what part of the vector?
anterior
Section Stercoraria is also known as
Posterior (Hindgut) Station Development
Species in Stercoraria develop in what part of the vector?
posterior/hindgut
Trypansosoma brucei is found in which section?
salivaria
What is the vector for Trypansosoma brucei?
Glossina - Tsete fly
What stage of Trypansosoma brucei is infective to humans?
metacyclic
What stage of Trypansosoma brucei lives in the blood of humans?
slender tryps
Where do the tryps multiply?
Slender Tryps: Body Fluids
Stumpy Tryps: Do not multiply
Procyclic Tryps: Fly’s gut
Epimastogotes: Salivary Gland
What does the posterior end of Trypansosoma brucei look like?
blunt
What stage of Trypansosoma brucei si infective to Glossina?
metacylci tryps
How many subpsecies of T. brucei are there?
3
How can the subspecies of Trypansosoma brucei be differentiated?
DH
pathology
morphologically identical
What is the common name of Glossina? What does that name mean?
Tsetse
“fly distructive to cattle”
How can Glossina be identified?
“meat cleaver” cell in wing
Where in Africa is Glossina most prevalent?
tropical Africa
between 15 deg N & 15 deg S = fly belt
What disease is caused by T. brucei brucei?
Nagana
What animals are infected with Nagana?
antelope & livestock
What 2 subspecies of T. brucei cause African Sleeping Sickness in humans?
1) T. brucei rhodesiense (Tbr) - East African Sleeping Sickness
2) T. b. gambiense (Tbg) - West African Sleeping Sickness
What are the differences in Tbr & Tbg morphology?
identical
What are the geographical distributions of Tbg & Tbr?
Tbr - Eastern/Southeastern African
Tbg - West and Central Africa