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A Lesson in Survival, by Giardia lamblia

A Lesson in Survival, by Giardia lamblia

Authors :
Rópolo, Andrea A. S.
Touz, Maria C.
Source :
TheScientificWorldJOURNAL.
Publication Year :
2010
Publisher :
TheScientificWorldJOURNAL, 2010.

Abstract

In the relationships between host and parasites, there is a cross-talk that involves diverse mechanisms developed by two different genetic systems during years of evolution. On the one hand, immunocompetent hosts have developed effective innate and acquired immune responses that are used to restrict or avoid parasitism. On the other hand, parasites evade the immune response, expressing different antigens on their surface or by using other specific mechanisms, such as nutrient depletion. In this review, we analyze the survival mechanisms used by the protozoan parasite Giardia lamblia during infection. In particular, we examine the multiple roles played by the enzyme arginine deiminase during colonization of the gut, also involving the parasite's mechanism of antigenic variation. Potential drug targets for the treatment of giardiasis are also discussed.

Subjects

Subjects :
Article Subject

Details

Language :
English
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
TheScientificWorldJOURNAL
Accession number :
edsair.hindawi.publ..0e67aa48a4a3b27dc144c2345fb53c88
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2010.200