Structure of the trypanosome transferrin receptor reveals mechanisms of ligand recognition and immune evasion

• Published in: Nature microbiology Vol. 4; no. 12; pp. 2074 - 2081
• Main Authors: Trevor, Camilla E, Gonzalez-Munoz, Andrea L, Macleod, Olivia J S, Woodcock, Peter G, Rust, Steven, Vaughan, Tristan J, Garman, Elspeth F, Minter, Ralph, Carrington, Mark, Higgins, Matthew K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 01.12.2019
• Subjects: Antigenic Variation; Genetic Variation; Genomes; Host range; Host-Parasite Interactions - immunology; Humans; Immune Evasion; Ligands; Macromolecules; Mammals; Models, Molecular; N-glycans; Nutrients; Polysaccharides; Protein Binding; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Protozoan Proteins - chemistry; Protozoan Proteins - immunology; Receptors, Transferrin - chemistry; Receptors, Transferrin - immunology; Transferrin - metabolism; Transferrins; Trypanosoma brucei brucei - immunology; Trypanosomiasis, African - immunology

To maintain prolonged infection of mammals, African trypanosomes have evolved remarkable surface coats and a system of antigenic variation . Within these coats are receptors for macromolecular nutrients such as transferrin . These must be accessible to their ligands but must not confer susceptibilit...