Cloning of African trypanosomes in mice immunosuppressed by cyclophosphamide treatment

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1982 Nov;31(6):1098-102. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1982.31.1098.

Abstract

The use of cyclophosphamide-treated mice for purpose of cloning the African trypanosomes was assessed. C3HeB/FeJ mice were injected with 200 mg/kg cyclophosphamide (CY) 24-72 hours prior to infection with a single trypanosome isolated from Trypanosoma rhodesiense infected blood samples. All CY-treated mice exhibited depressed parasite-exposure, which was a period of time sufficient to grow trypanosomes from a single organism to a fulminating parasitemia. Cloning efficiency was routinely 45% in these animals. Thus, our study demonstrates that CT-treated mice are a convenient and efficient vehicle for cloning African trypanosomes. Techniques which facilitate the selection of single trypanosomes from infected blood are also described in this report.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Clone Cells / parasitology
  • Cyclophosphamide / pharmacology*
  • Epitopes
  • Female
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Rabbits
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Trypanosoma / immunology
  • Trypanosoma / isolation & purification*
  • Trypanosomiasis, African / immunology
  • Trypanosomiasis, African / parasitology*

Substances

  • Epitopes
  • Cyclophosphamide