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Molluscan Comparative Immunology (MCI) Group
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Carbohydrate Mimicry of the Parasite in Host-Parasite
systems
| Using labeled lectins, a comparative
study of the surface of tegument of Himasthla elongata
at different stages of development cycle (daughter rediae, cercariae,
and metacercariae) and glycocalyx of plasma membranes of haemocytes
of molluscs Littorina littorea and Mytilus edulis
that are the first and second intermediate hosts of this trematode
species, respectively, has been carried out. It is found that
in the course of the development cycle of the parasite there
occurs a change of the set of terminal sacharides of the glycocalyx
of the H. elongata tegument surface as well as differences are
revealed in the pattern of binding of three out of five tested
lectins with hemocytes of blue mussel and periwinkle. At the
same time, the presence of similar carbohydrate determinants
on the surface of hemocytes of L. littorea and daughter
rediae of H. elongata is shown. The established similarity
in composition of glycocalyx of hemocytes of the mollusc and
the trematode parthenitae is, most likely, a result of coevolution
of the parasite and the host and is of the adaptive nature.
Use of the mechanism of the carbohydrate mimicry by parthenitae
of this species allows them to avoid attacking by effector cells
of the internal defense system of the mollusc-host. |
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Original article:
Iakovleva N.V., A. M. Gorbushin 2005 Carbohydrate Mimicry of
the Parasite in the Himasthla elongata (Trematoda: Echinostomatidae)
- Littorina littorea (Mollusca: Prosobranchia) System.
Journal of Evolutionary Biochemistry and Physiology,
Vol. 41, No. 2, 2005, pp. 143-149 (PDF-79kb)
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