Mechanisms for the elimination of potentially lytic complement-fixing variable surface glycoprotein antibody-complexes in Trypanosoma brucei.

Live antibody-coated Trypanosoma brucei parasites remove variable surface glycoprotein (VSG)-antibody complexes from their surface upon warming to 37 degrees C and evade antibody-activated complement lysis by both protein synthesis-dependent and protein synthesis-independent mechanisms. The protein synthesis-dependent process follows antibody-mediated trypanosome agglutination, whereas the protein synthesis-independent mechanism can occur in the absence of trypanosome agglutination. The latter process leads to a more rapid elimination of complement-fixing VSG-antibody complexes.