Identification of trans-sialidases as a common mediator of endothelial cell activation by African trypanosomes.

ABSTRACT: Understanding African Trypanosomiasis (AT) host-pathogen interaction is the key to an "anti-disease vaccine", a novel strategy to control AT. Here we provide a better insight into this poorly described interaction by characterizing the activation of a panel of endothelial cells by bloodstream forms of four African trypanosome species, known to interact with host endothelium. T. congolense, T. vivax, and T. b. gambiense activated the endothelial NF-κB pathway, but interestingly, not T. b. brucei. The parasitic TS (trans-sialidases) mediated this NF-κB activation, remarkably via their lectin-like domain and induced production of pro-inflammatory molecules not only in vitro but also in vivo, suggesting a considerable impact on pathogenesis. For the first time, TS activity was identified in T.

SUBMITTER: Ammar Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3795030 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature