Identification and Characterization of the Trypanosoma cruzi B-cell Superantigen Tc24.

ABSTRACT: Trypanosoma cruzi causes life-long disease after infection and leads to cardiac disease in 30% of infected individuals. After infection, the parasites are readily detectable in the blood during the first few days before disseminating to infect numerous cell types. Preliminary data suggested that the Tc24 protein that localizes to the T. cruzi membrane during all life stages possesses B-cell superantigenic properties. These antigens facilitate immune escape by interfering with antibody-mediated responses, particularly the avoidance of catalytic antibodies. These antibodies are an innate host defense mechanism present in the naive repertoire, and catalytic antibody-antigen binding results in hydrolysis of the target. We tested the B-cell superantigenic properties of Tc24 by comparing the deg

SUBMITTER: Gunter SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4710414 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature