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Parasitism in optima forma: exploiting the host fibrinolytic system for invasion

Lourdes Figuera1, Amaranta Gómez-Arreaza, Luisana Avilán

  • 1Laboratorio de Fisiología, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida 5101, Venezuela.

Acta Tropica
|July 16, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Parasitic organisms, like bacteria, hijack the host

Area of Science:

  • Parasitology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Pathogenic bacteria interact with the host fibrinolytic system via plasminogen for invasion.
  • This interaction is crucial for infection establishment in bacterial pathogens.
  • Emerging evidence suggests parasitic protists and helminths also utilize plasminogen.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of plasminogen interaction in parasitic infections.
  • To identify plasminogen receptors in parasites.
  • To explore the evolutionary implications of plasminogen receptor recruitment.

Main Methods:

  • Identification of plasminogen-binding molecules in parasites.
  • Analysis of the function of these molecules in parasite virulence.
  • Comparative analysis with known bacterial plasminogen receptors.

Main Results:

  • Parasites utilize plasminogen receptors, including glycolytic enzymes like enolase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and fructose-1,6-biphosphate aldolase.
  • These receptors facilitate parasite migration, cell invasion, and evasion of clot formation by harnessing host plasmin.
  • Plasminogen receptors are identified as potential virulence factors in parasites.

Conclusions:

  • Parasitic organisms employ strategies similar to bacteria by interacting with the host fibrinolytic system.
  • Glycolytic enzymes serve as plasminogen receptors in parasites, contributing to virulence.
  • The study discusses an evolutionary perspective on how diverse pathogens recruit these enzymes for infection.
Keywords:
FibrinolysisInvasionParasitesPlasminogenPlasminogen receptors

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