MARveling at parasite invasion.

ABSTRACT: Micronemal proteins (MICs) are key mediators of cytoadherence and invasion for Toxoplasma gondii. Emerging evidence indicates that carbohydrate binding facilitates Toxoplasma entry into host cells. The recently solved Toxoplasma MIC1s (TgMIC1s) structure reveals the presence of novel specialized domains that can discriminate between glycan residues. Comparison with Plasmodium erythrocyte-binding antigen 175 reveals that terminal sialic acid residues might represent a shared but tailored invasion pathway among apicomplexan parasites.

SUBMITTER: Hager KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2662992 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature