Collagenase activity in clinical isolates of Entamoeba histolytica maintained in xenic cultures
Magos, M.A.; de la Torre, M.; Muñoz, M.L.
Archives of Medical Research 23(2): 115-118
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0188-4409 PMID: 1340271 Document Number: 390638
Several isolates of pathogenic and non-pathogenic Entamoeba histolytica from xenic cultures were tested for their capacity to digest native type I collagen gels. The results demonstrate that the pathogenic isolate HM48:IMSS has a high collagenolytic activity. The non-pathogenic isolates, HM43:IMSS, HM44:IMSS and HM46:IMSS showed significantly lower collagenolytic activity. 6 groups, showing different degrees of collagenase activity or non-activity, were separated from the non-pathogenic isolates by a Percoll gradient. The groups obtained from the pathogenic isolate HM48:IMSS always displayed enzymatic activity.