A somatically diversified defense factor, FREP3, is a determinant of snail resistance to schistosome infection.

ABSTRACT: Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease, owes its continued success to freshwater snails that support production of prolific numbers of human-infective cercariae. Encounters between schistosomes and snails do not always result in the snail becoming infected, in part because snails can mount immune responses that prevent schistosome development. Fibrinogen-related protein 3 (FREP3) has been previously associated with snail defense against digenetic trematode infection. It is a member of a large family of immune molecules with a unique structure consisting of one or two immunoglobulin superfamily domains connected to a fibrinogen domain; to date fibrinogen containing proteins with this arrangement are found only in gastropod molluscs. Furthermore, specific gastropod FREPs have been sho

SUBMITTER: Hanington PC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3313920 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature