Sequence variation and structural conservation allows development of novel function and immune evasion in parasite surface protein families.

ABSTRACT: Trypanosoma and Plasmodium species are unicellular, eukaryotic pathogens that have evolved the capacity to survive and proliferate within a human host, causing sleeping sickness and malaria, respectively. They have very different survival strategies. African trypanosomes divide in blood and extracellular spaces, whereas Plasmodium species invade and proliferate within host cells. Interaction with host macromolecules is central to establishment and maintenance of an infection by both parasites. Proteins that mediate these interactions are under selection pressure to bind host ligands without compromising immune avoidance strategies. In both parasites, the expansion of genes encoding a small number of protein folds has established large protein families. This has permitted both diversificati

SUBMITTER: Higgins MK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3970887 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature