Mechanism of long slender (LS) to short stumpy (SS) transformation in the African trypanosomes

Abstract

The transformation of the long slender to the short stumpy stages of the African trypanosomes is an essential part of the trypanosome life cycle. Four possible mechanisms which could control this event have been investigated. It has been shown that (a) the dividing long slender to non-dividing short stumpy transition is not a programmed event in the trypanosome life cycle; nor (b) would it appear to be initiated by some form of cell to cell contact inhibition of growth. In addition, evidence is presented which would suggest that (c) the transition is not started by the depletion of a critical growth nutrient from the environment during the growth of the trypanosomes. The last possibility (d) considered is that during trypanosome growth, a growth inhibitor-short stumpy inducer accumulates in the trypanosomes' environment. Evidence is presented which shows that plasma from infected animals can inhibit the incorporation of thymidine by the trypanosomes. These data are consistent with the suggestion of an exogenous growth inhibitor accumulating during the infection.