Cell surface glycoproteins of Trypanosoma cruzi: protective immunity in mice and antibody levels in human chagasic sera.

Two cell surface glycoproteins from Trypanosoma cruzi have been compared for their ability to protect mice against an acute lethal infection. One of these, a 90,000 glycoprotein found on all stages of the parasite, protected against both bloodstream and metacyclic trypomastigote challenge. A 72,000 glycoprotein found only on insect-derived stages of T. cruzi protected only against a metacyclic trypomastigote challenge. Antibody against both of these glycoproteins was present in human chagasic sera.