Flypaper for parasites

Stephen M Beverley; Deborah E Dobson

doi:10.1016/j.cell.2004.10.013

Flypaper for parasites

Cell. 2004 Oct 29;119(3):311-2. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2004.10.013.

Authors

Stephen M Beverley¹, Deborah E Dobson

Affiliation

¹ Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University Medical School, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.

PMID: 15507202
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2004.10.013

Abstract

In this issue, Kamhawi et al. (2004) describe the identification of an insect galectin as the receptor for the stage-specific Leishmania adhesin lipophosphoglycan (LPG). This interaction is critical for parasite survival in the midgut of its sand fly vector. The results open new avenues for studies of insect immunity, transmission binding vaccines, and host-parasite coevolution.

Publication types

Comment

MeSH terms

Animals
Cell Adhesion / physiology
Galectins / metabolism*
Glycosphingolipids / metabolism*
Host-Parasite Interactions
Insect Vectors / immunology
Insect Vectors / metabolism
Insect Vectors / parasitology*
Leishmania / metabolism*
Leishmania / pathogenicity
Psychodidae / immunology
Psychodidae / metabolism
Psychodidae / parasitology*

Substances

Galectins
Glycosphingolipids
lipophosphonoglycan