Destruction of Trypanosoma cruzi by Natural killer cells

Mice infected with trypanosoma cruzi or stimulated with poly(inosinic.cytodylic acid) were found to possess splenic and peritoneal exudate cells with enhanced cytotoxic activity against epimastigote and trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. By use of specific alloantiserums it was determined that the effector cells responsible for this cytotoxic activity were typical natural killer cells.