Helminth glycomics - glycan repertoires and host-parasite interactions

Abstract

Glycoproteins and glycolipids of parasitic helminths play important roles in biology and host-parasite interaction. This review discusses recent helminth glycomics studies that have been expanding our insights into the glycan repertoire of helminths. Structural data are integrated with biological and immunological observations to highlight how glycomics advances our understanding of the critical roles that glycans and glycan motifs play in helminth infection biology. Prospects and challenges in helminth glycomics and glycobiology are discussed.

Keywords: Glycan antigen; Glycan array; Glycans; Helminths; Mass spectrometry; Schistosome.