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Leishmania-specific surface antigens show sub-genus sequence variation and immune recognition
Daniel P Depledge1, Lorna M MacLean, Michael R Hodgkinson
1Centre for Immunology and Infection, Department of Biology, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, United Kingdom.
Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases
|October 8, 2010
Summary
Hydrophilic acylated surface (HASP) proteins are expressed in Leishmania parasites, with variations suggesting a role in immune evasion. These findings highlight HASPs
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Hydrophilic acylated surface (HASP) proteins are expressed in infective stages of Old World Leishmania species.
- HASPs are antigenic and can induce protective immune responses, but their biological functions are not fully understood.
- Previous studies suggested that Leishmania (Viannia) sub-genus parasites lack HASP genes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze HASP expression in New World Leishmania mexicana complex species.
- To investigate the presence and characteristics of HASP-like proteins in Leishmania (Viannia) species.
- To explore the role of HASP variation in host immune recognition.
Main Methods:
- Molecular and cellular methods were employed to analyze HASP expression.
- Genome analysis was conducted to identify HASP-related genes in different Leishmania species.
- Immunoserological assays were used to detect host immune recognition of HASP-like proteins.
Main Results:
- In Leishmania mexicana, HASPs are predominantly expressed in amastigote stages after differentiation within macrophages.
- Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis expresses HASP-like proteins (oHASPs) with low sequence similarity but similar biochemical properties.
- oHASPs are surface-exposed on amastigotes and recognized by sera from leishmaniasis patients, with significant variation in repetitive domains.
Conclusions:
- Antigenic hydrophilic acylated proteins are expressed from conserved chromosomal regions across the Leishmania genus.
- These proteins are surface-exposed on amastigotes, with potential for immune evasion through antigenic variation.
- The high variability in HASP repetitive domains supports their role in host immune recognition and parasite adaptation.
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