The role played by alternative splicing in antigenic variability in human endo-parasites, Parasites & Vectors

Endo-parasites that affect humans include Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria, which remains one of the leading causes of death in human beings. Despite decades of research, vaccines to this and other endo-parasites remain elusive. This is in part due to the hyper-variability of the parasites surface proteins. Generally these surface proteins are encoded by a large family of genes, with only one being dominantly expressed at certain life stages. Another layer of complexity can be introduced through the alternative splicing of these surface proteins. The resulting isoforms may differ from each other with regard to cell localisation, substrate affinities and functions. They may even differ in structure to the extent that they are no longer recognised by the host’s immune system. In many cases this leads to changes in the N terminus of these proteins. The geographical localisation of endo-parasitic infections around the tropics and the highest incidences of HIV-1 infection in the same areas, adds a further layer of complexity as parasitic infections affect the host immune system resulting in higher HIV infection rates, faster disease progression, and an increase in the severity of infections and complications in HIV diagnosis. This review discusses some examples of parasite surface proteins that are alternatively spliced in trypanosomes, Plasmodium and the parasitic worm Schistosoma as well as what role alternate splicing may play in the interaction between HIV and these endo-parasites.

Biomolecules, Free Full-Text

Read, Write, Adapt: Challenges and Opportunities during Kinetoplastid Genome Replication: Trends in Genetics

Carbonic anhydrases in metazoan model organisms: molecules, mechanisms, and physiology

Transcriptome analysis of alternative splicing in the pathogen life cycle in human foreskin fibroblasts infected with Trypanosoma cruzi

Immune diversity in lophotrochozoans, with a focus on recognition and effector systems - Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal

Translational regulation in blood stages of the malaria parasite Plasmodium spp.: systems‐wide studies pave the way - Vembar - 2016 - WIREs RNA - Wiley Online Library

The role played by alternative splicing in antigenic variability in human endo-parasites, Parasites & Vectors

遺傳多樣性 Genetic Diversity: 最新的百科全書、新聞、評論和研究

Defining the genetic and evolutionary architecture of alternative splicing in response to infection