Turnover of Variant Surface Glycoprotein in
mBio, 2021 African trypanosomes utilize glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) to evade the host immune system. VSG turnover is thought to be mediated via cleavage of the GPI anchor by endogenous GPI-specific phospholipase C (
Paige Garrison +9 more
doaj +2 more sources
Monoallelic expression and epigenetic inheritance sustained by a Trypanosoma brucei variant surface glycoprotein exclusion complex [PDF]
Nature Communications, 2019 Monoallelic expression of variant surface glycoprotein genes (VSGs) is essential for immune evasion by Trypanosoma brucei. Here, Faria et al. show that the VEX protein complex controls VSG allelic exclusion, and that CAF‐1 sustains inheritance of the VEX‐
Joana Faria +5 more
doaj +2 more sources
Transcription Dependent Loss of an Ectopically Expressed Variant Surface Glycoprotein during Antigenic Variation in Trypanosoma brucei [PDF]
mBio, 2022 In the mammalian host, Trypanosoma brucei is coated in a single-variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) species. Stochastic switching of the expressed VSG allows the parasite to escape detection by the host immune system.
Emilia Jane McLaughlin +3 more
doaj +2 more sources
Variant surface glycoprotein density defines an immune evasion threshold for African trypanosomes undergoing antigenic variation [PDF]
Nature Communications, 2017 Trypanosoma brucei evades the host immune system through replacement of a variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) coat. Here, the authors show that VSG replacement takes several days to complete, and the parasite is vulnerable to the host immune system for a ...
Jason Pinger +2 more
doaj +2 more sources
Glycotyping of Trypanosoma brucei variant surface glycoprotein MITat1.8
Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, 2010 Following a switch from variant surface glycoprotein MITat1.4 to variant surface glycoprotein MITat1.8 expression by Lister strain 427 Trypanosoma brucei brucei parasites, the latter uncharacterized variant surface glycoprotein was analysed. Variant surface glycoprotein MITat1.8 was found to be a disulphide-linked homodimer, containing a complex N ...
Mehlert, Angela +2 more
openaire +4 more sources
The release of host-derived antibodies bound to the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) of Trypanosoma brucei cannot be explained by pH-dependent conformational changes of the VSG dimer [version 1; peer review: 2 approved] [PDF]
Open Research EuropeBackground Trypanosoma brucei is a protozoan parasite that evades the mammalian host’s adaptive immune response by antigenic variation of the highly immunogenic variant surface glycoprotein (VSG).
Pavel Nesterov +8 more
doaj +2 more sources
Expression of a specific variant surface glycoprotein has a major impact on suramin sensitivity and endocytosis in Trypanosoma brucei [PDF]
FASEB BioAdvances, 2019 Suramin was introduced into the clinic a century ago and is still used to treat the first stage of acute human sleeping sickness. Due to its size and sixfold negative charge, uptake is mediated through endocytosis and the suramin receptor in trypanosomes
Natalie Wiedemar +5 more
doaj +2 more sources
Infections with extracellular trypanosomes require control by efficient innate immune mechanisms and can result in the destruction of the mammalian humoral immune system [PDF]
, 2020 Salivarian trypanosomes are extracellular parasites that affect humans, livestock, and game animals around the world. Through co-evolution with the mammalian immune system, trypanosomes have developed defense mechanisms that allow them to thrive in blood,
Magez, Stefan +3 more
core +1 more source
Secondary structure of the variant surface glycoproteins of trypanosomes [PDF]
FEBS Letters, 1987 The secondary structure of seven variant surface glycoproteins (VSGs) of trypanosomes has been determined by Raman spectroscopy. They are all predominantly α‐helical, the α‐helix content varying between 50 and 60%. The β‐strand content varies between 20 and 25%, and the content of β‐turn and nonregular structures is about 25%.
Jähnig, Fritz +3 more
openaire +2 more sources
A monocistronic transcript for a trypanosome variant surface glycoprotein. [PDF]
Molecular and Cellular Biology, 1994 Many protein-encoding genes of African trypanosomes are transcribed as large polycistronic pre-mRNAs that are processed into individual mRNAs containing a 5' spliced leader and 3' poly(A). The 45- to 60-kb pre-mRNAs encoding some variant surface glycoproteins (VSGs) contain as many as eight unrelated coding regions.
C M, Alarcon +3 more
openaire +2 more sources