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Binding of C3 fragments to the Trypanosoma cruzi surface in the absence of specific antibodies and without activation of the complement cascade.

Bloodstream trypomastigotes (BTry) of Trypanosoma cruzi were found to bind to their surface membrane in-vitro fragments of C3, namely C3b and/or C3bi. Different reagents specific for C3 were used: anti-C3c serum and anti-C3 monoclonal antibodies; bovine conglutinine and yeast particles. The BTry, isolated from acutely infected mice and maintained on a complement-free culture medium (TC-199), were strongly agglutinated by these reagents or formed clumps with the yeast only after being previously treated with fresh or heat inactivated normal human serum. It is suggested that the binding of C3b fragments to the parasite membrane may influence the extent or the nature of the early events during T. cruzi infection allowing the BTry to escape complement destruction by the alternative complement pathway.