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Antigenic variation in trypanosomes.

K Vickerman

    Nature
    |June 22, 1978
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    African trypanosomes like Trypanosoma brucei evade immune responses by spontaneously changing their surface coat antigens. This heterogeneity complicates vaccine development for cattle and humans.

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    Area of Science:

    • Immunology
    • Parasitology
    • Molecular Biology

    Background:

    • Trypanosoma brucei evades the host immune system through antigenic variation of its surface glycoprotein coat.
    • This immune evasion is crucial for the parasite's survival in mammalian hosts.
    • Antigenic variation allows the parasite to persist despite the host's immune response.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the mechanism of antigenic variation in Trypanosoma brucei.
    • To understand the role of host antibodies in the selection of parasite populations.
    • To assess the implications of parasite heterogeneity for vaccine development.

    Main Methods:

    • Observational studies of Trypanosoma brucei in mammalian hosts.
    • Analysis of spontaneous phenotypic changes in parasite populations.

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  • Evaluation of the role of host antibodies in parasite population dynamics.

    • Main Results:

    • Phenotypic changes in the surface coat occur spontaneously in approximately 1 in 10,000 individuals, not due to genetic mutation.
    • Host antibodies are not required for the induction of antigenic changes but selectively eliminate existing parasite variants.
    • The infecting trypanosome population can be heterogeneous, complicating immune responses.

    Conclusions:

    • Trypanosoma brucei exhibits significant antigenic heterogeneity, complicating immune evasion strategies.
    • The spontaneous nature of antigenic variation and population heterogeneity pose challenges for developing effective vaccines against African trypanosomiasis.
    • Understanding parasite heterogeneity is critical for designing successful vaccination strategies for cattle and humans.