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Roles of proteases during invasion and egress by Plasmodium and Toxoplasma

Timothy J Dowse1, Konstantinos Koussis, Michael J Blackman

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, Imperial College, London, UK.

Sub-Cellular Biochemistry
|June 3, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Proteolytic enzymes are crucial for apicomplexan parasite invasion and egress. Cysteine proteases aid malaria parasite egress, while serine proteases facilitate invasion by Plasmodium and Toxoplasma.

Area of Science:

  • Parasitology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Apicomplexan pathogens like Plasmodium and Toxoplasma infect host cells.
  • Parasite invasion and egress are essential for their life cycle.
  • Proteolytic enzymes are potential drug and vaccine targets.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of parasite proteolytic enzymes in apicomplexan invasion and egress.
  • To focus on Plasmodium and Toxoplasma genera.
  • To discuss cysteine and serine proteases.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing research on apicomplexan proteases.
  • Analysis of the functions of different protease classes (cysteine, serine).
  • Comparison of protease roles in invasion versus egress.

Main Results:

  • Cysteine proteases are implicated in the egress of Plasmodium from host cells.
  • Serine proteases (subtilisin and rhomboid families) are key for invasion by Plasmodium and Toxoplasma.
  • Proteases involved in egress degrade host cell structures.
  • Proteases involved in invasion act as maturases and shedases.

Conclusions:

  • Proteolytic enzymes play distinct roles in apicomplexan invasion and egress.
  • Targeting these proteases could lead to novel therapeutic strategies.
  • Further research into apicomplexan proteases is warranted for drug and vaccine development.

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