INIMEC - CONICET   05467
INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACION MEDICA MERCEDES Y MARTIN FERREYRA
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
A lesson in survival, by Giardia lamblia
Autor/es:
ANDREA SILVANA ROPOLO; TOUZ, MARÍA CAROLINA
Revista:
SCIENTIFIC WORLD JOURNAL, THE
Editorial:
THESCIENTIFICWORLD LTD
Referencias:
Año: 2010 vol. 10 p. 2019 - 2031
ISSN:
1537-744X
Resumen:
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.