The application of electron microscopy to the study of Toxoplasma gondii and Besnoitia besnoiti tachyzoites maintained in vitro
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| Year of publication | 2012 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Description | Toxoplasma gondii and Besnoitia besnoiti are protozoan parasites belonging to the subfamily Toxoplasmatinae (Apicomplexa, Sarcocystidae). Even though these two pathogens are closely phylogenetically related, knowledge on their life cycle does not reach the same degree. While the life cycle and the transmission of important human parasite Toxoplasma gondii has been intensively studied for decades, Besnoitia besnoiti, endangering mainly cattle and thus causing significant economic looses, still remains enigmatic. In this study we focused on the morphology of tachyzoites and their interactions with host cell in vitro. Main aims include the comparison of morphological data on B. besnoiti with those on T. gondii as well as the standardization of electron microscopic techniques used for processing of unicellular parasites maintained on cell cultures. Tachyzoites of both species were maintained on MARC-145 cell lines (monkey kidney cell line) and then processed for scanning and transmission electron microscopy as well as for freeze etching procedure. |
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