The role of mucins in host–parasite interactions: Part II – helminth parasites

Some parasites express mucin-like molecules. These have possible roles in attachment and invasion of host cells and in the avoidance of host immune processes. Enzymes of parasite origin might also facilitate infection, either by degrading host mucus barriers or by generating binding sites on host ce...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Trends in Parasitology 2001-03, Vol.17 (3), p.130-135
Main Authors: Theodoropoulos, Georgios, Hicks, Sally J, Corfield, Anthony P, Miller, Bevis G, Carrington, Steve D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Autoecology
Biological and medical sciences
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
helminth parasites
Helminthiasis - immunology
Helminthiasis - parasitology
Helminths - metabolism
Helminths - pathogenicity
host-parasite interaction
Host-Parasite Interactions
Humans
membrane-bound mucin
mucin-like glycoprotein
Mucins - physiology
mucus
Protozoa. Invertebrata
secreted mucin
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Summary:Some parasites express mucin-like molecules. These have possible roles in attachment and invasion of host cells and in the avoidance of host immune processes. Enzymes of parasite origin might also facilitate infection, either by degrading host mucus barriers or by generating binding sites on host cells. Host mucins have roles in preventing parasite establishment or in parasite expulsion. They, in turn, might be exploited by parasites, either as sources of fuel or binding sites, or as host-finding targets. Here, we describe the biochemical properties of mucins and mucin-like molecules in relation to interactions (established and putative) between helminth parasites and their hosts.
ISSN:1471-4922
1471-5007
DOI:10.1016/S1471-4922(00)01775-X