Trypanosoma brucei: Host parasite interaction in parasite destruction by salicylhydroxamic acid and glycerol in mice

Abstract

Mouse blood and serum contain a synergistic factor which affects both the speed and completeness of destruction of Trypanosoma brucei in the presence of salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM) and glycerol. The action of this factor is dose dependent producing complete killing in infected whole blood with 2 mM SHAM and 12 mM glycerol but not in a mixture of 20% infected whole blood and 80% buffer containing the same final concentration of SHAM and glycerol. This factor may account for the discrepancy in reports showing that SHAM-glycerol does not kill 100% of the exposed parasites in vitro yet is able to cure infected animals. The factor is not due to an acquired immune response, complement action, nor lipoproteins. Should the level of the factor be able to be increased, this could greatly increase the effectiveness of SHAM-glycerol. © 1981.