Trypanosoma cruzi: single cell live imaging inside infected tissues

Author(s)

Ferreira, Bianca Lima ^[1] ; Orikaza, Cristina Mary ^[1] ; Cordero, Esteban Mauricio ^[1] ; Mortara, Renato Arruda ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo EPM UNIFESP, Dept Microbiol Imunol & Parasitol, Rua Botucatu 862 6th Floor, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Cellular Microbiology; v. 18, n. 6, p. 779-783, JUN 2016.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

Although imaging the live Trypanosoma cruzi parasite is a routine technique in most laboratories, identification of the parasite in infected tissues and organs has been hindered by their intrinsic opaque nature. We describe a simple method for in vivo observation of live single-cell Trypanosoma cruzi parasites inside mammalian host tissues. BALB/c or C57BL/6 mice infected with DsRed-CL or GFP-G trypomastigotes had their organs removed and sectioned with surgical blades. Ex vivo organ sections were observed under confocal microscopy. For the first time, this procedure enabled imaging of individual amastigotes, intermediate forms and motile trypomastigotes within infected tissues of mammalian hosts. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/21338-2 - In situ evaluation of acute and chronic infection with Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes (TCI and TcVI) in BALB/c and C57BL/6 inbred mice
• Grantee: Bianca Rodrigues Lima Ferreira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master