Glycolipids are potential targets for protozoan parasite diseases

Trends Parasitol. 2010 May 17. [Epub ahead of print]

Glycolipids are potential targets for protozoan parasite diseases

Debierre-Grockiego F.

UMR Université-INRA 0483, UFR Sciences Pharmaceutiques, Immunologie Parasitaire, Vaccinologie et Biothérapies anti-infectieuses, 31 Avenue Monge, F-37200 Tours, France.

Abstract
Induction of sterilizing immunity by vaccination is extremely difficult because of the evasion mechanisms developed by parasites, and identification of new targets for therapy is therefore important. Glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs) of parasites are glycolipids that participate in pathogenicity of parasitic diseases. Studies of Plasmodium falciparum and Trypanosoma brucei indicate that GPIs are good candidates for developing vaccines against malaria and sleeping sickness, respectively. By contrast, fatty acids isolated from P. falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii can inhibit the production of inflammatory cytokines induced by the GPIs in macrophages. GPIs are considered to be toxins that, if present in large amounts, induce irreversible damages to the host, and treatment with fatty acids could reduce this effect. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PMID: 20483663 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]