Complementary surface epitopes, myotropic adhesion and active grip in Trypanosoma cruzi-host cell recognition.

Plasma membranes with complementary surface epitopes and with essentially the same orientation as tissue infective metacyclic trypomastigotes and epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi adhere to L6 myoblast host cells preferentially to smooth muscle and epithelial cells as a function of time, surface area and concentration in saturation phenomena at 4 and 37 degrees C. The initial adhesion rates are partially calcium ion dependent and, at saturation, they are also dependent on high energy phosphorylated intermediates, exerting an active grip on adherent parasite membranes. These phenomena are consistent with the existence of parasite attachment molecules on the external surface of the plasma membrane and complementary host cell receptor structures with the capacity to bind them.