Morphological investigation of Toxoplasma gondii in vivo by a multiple beam interference microscope

Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz

H Medina²  Jm Barboza²  H Urdaneta¹  M Rondon¹  Nv Joshi² 

[1] ,Universidad de Los Andes Facultad de Medicina Departamento de Fisiología

关键词: multiple beam interference microscopy;    high resolution;    morphology;    Toxoplasma gondii;    atomic force microscopy;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0074-02762001000700017

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

A recently developed technique, namely multiple beam interference microscopy, has been applied to investigate the morphology of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii for the first time. The interference pattern obtained from the multiple internal reflection of a T. gondii, sandwiched between a glass plate and a cover plate, was focused on the objective of a conventional microscope. Because of the enhance contrast, several details of sub cellular structure and separating compartments are clearly visible. Details reveal the presence of a nucleus, lipid body, dense granule, rhoptry and amylopectin. The wall thickness of the membrane of the lipid body and the amylopectin is of the order of 0.02 µm and can be clearly distinguished with the help of the present technique. The same parasite has also been examined with the help of atomic force microscopy, and because of its thick membrane, the inner structural details were not observed at all. Sub cellular details of T. gondii observed with the present technique have been reported earlier only by low amplification transmission electron microscopy and not by any optical microscopic technique.

【 授权许可】

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