Affiliation:
1. Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville 22908.
Abstract
Entamoeba histolytica extracellular killing of host cells is contact dependent. Adherence to human colonic epithelial cells and mucins is mediated by a galactose-specific lectin. The effect on cytotoxicity of a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAb) directed against the galactose lectin was tested. As expected, those MAb which inhibited adherence also decreased cytotoxicity. However, one antilectin MAb blocked cytotoxicity after adherence had occurred, indicating that the lectin has a role in cell killing that is distinct from its adherence function.
Publisher
American Society for Microbiology
Subject
Infectious Diseases,Immunology,Microbiology,Parasitology