Ultrastructural and morphological characterization of Trypanosoma bubalisi reveals an active endocytic system

Trypanosoma bubalisi is a newly identified mammalian trypanosome isolated from a freshwater leech (Hirudinaria manillensis) and the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is considered its host. Despite the detailed morphological description of in vitro cultivated forms of this trypanosome, little is known about its ultrastructure. In this study, a detailed ultrastructure of T. bubalisi was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy. Two membrane-bound organelles were identified, multivesicular body-like vesicles (ve1) and large lipid-rich vesicles resembling reservosomes (ve2), alongside an extracellular 'beads-on-a-string' structure. These all appear to be associated with endocytosis or secretion. Three-dimensional reconstructions confirmed the organization and distribution of the two membrane-bound organelles. Functional assays using Tomato lectin and Lyso-Tracker demonstrated that ve2 is involved in endocytic uptake and may act as a terminal storage compartment. Compared to the pathogen causing Nagana, Trypanosoma brucei, T. bubalisi showed higher endocytic activity under both 27 °C and 4 °C conditions. These findings suggest that T. bubalisi possesses an active endocytic system and may share conserved mechanisms of material transport and storage with the pathogen causing Chagas' disease, Tryponosoma cruzi.

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

Peer-reviewed clinical and outcomes research relevant to medicinal leech therapy and its biology. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Explore cómo esta investigación se conecta con la práctica clínica

More peer-reviewed studies in Ensayos clínicos.

• Leech Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis — The Landmark RCT — Michalsen et al. (2003)
• Leech-Assisted Flap Salvage — Systematic Review of 277 Cases — Whitaker et al. (2012)
• Effects of hirudotherapy on liver functions, lipid profile, and insulin sensitivity in rats with metabolic syndrome — Bilden A et al. (2026)
• HIRUDOTHERAPY IN PRESBYACUZIS PRAECOX IN CLEAN-UP WORKERS AFTER THE CHORNOBYL ACCIDENT DURING THE POST-CATASTROPHE YEARS — Zabolotnyi D, Mishchanchuk N (2019)
• Wound healing potential of bark paste of Pongamia pinnata along with hirudotherapy: A case report — Balasooriya D, Karunarathna C, Uluwaduge I (2021)
• AIF-1 and RNASET2 Play Complementary Roles in the Innate Immune Response of Medicinal Leech — Baranzini N et al. (2019)
• Study on the effect of medicinal leech therapy (Hirudo medicinalis) on full-thickness excisional wound healing in the animal model — Zakian A et al. (2022)
• [Hirudo medicinalis-leech applications in plastic and reconstructive microsurgery--a literature review] — Knobloch K et al. (2007)
• The duration of rest and feeding greatly affects the re-breeding of ectoparasites: Hirudo verbana, Hirudo medicinalis and Hirudo orientalis — Aminov R, Frolov A, Aminova A (2022)
• Recombinant hirudin in clinical practice: focus on lepirudin — Greinacher A, Lubenow N (2001)

Browse all ASH-analysed research →