Electron Microscopy Visualization of the Cell Surface of Trypanosomatids

Trypanosomatids cell surfaces play an important role in the interaction process with the cells of their vertebrate hosts as well as with the epithelial intestinal cells of the invertebrate hosts. The surface of these eukaryotic organisms is considered to be made up of the glycocalix, the lipid bilayer and a layer of microtubules linked to the lipid bilayer. The surface of the infective forms exposes some macromolecules which are recognized by host cells and that trigger the invasion of these cells by the protozoan. This review describes how the surface of Trypanosoma cruzi, a member of the Trypanosomatidae family which causes Chagas’ disease, is analyzed using several electron microscopy techniques. These techniques include high resolution scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy of thin sections as well as of replicas obtained following cryotechniques such as conventional freeze-fracture, fracture-label, fracture-flip and deep-etching.