Interaction of different strains of Entamoeba histolytica with target cells: characterization of electrophysiological and morphological features.

Two strains of Entamoeba histolytica with pathogenic zymodemes (SFL3, HK9), one strain with non-pathogenic zymodeme ("Bru") and one non-pathogenic Entamoeba sp. strain ("cold strain"), were investigated with respect to their interaction with target cells. Three test systems were used: 1) direct microscopical observation and qualitative as well as quantitative evaluation of contact and binding events with MDCK cells as targets, 2) kinetics of cytotoxic activity as measured by means of chromium release from 51Cr-labelled K562 cells, and 3) electrophysiological observations with freshly prepared mouse liver cells.