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Updated: Sep 6, 2026

In vivo Imaging of Transgenic Leishmania Parasites in a Live Host
Published on: July 27, 2010
Function and assembly of the Leishmania surface coat
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia. ilgoutz@unimelb.edu.au
Abstract:
Like many trypanosomatids, the cell surface coat of Leishmania spp. is responsible for mediating various host-parasite interactions as well as acting as a dense physical barrier. This confers protection to the parasites in the hostile environments of the sandfly midgut and the macrophage phagolysosome. The major components of the surface coat are tethered to the cell surface via glycosylphosphatidylinositol glycolipids, and the composition of this surface coat is exquisitely regulated during the course of the parasite life-cycle. In this paper, we review what is known about the composition, biosynthesis and function of these glycosylphosphatidylinositol-containing molecules found within the parasite surface coat.
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