Trends in Parasitology
Volume 17, Issue 3, 1 March 2001, Pages 130-135
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Review
The role of mucins in host–parasite interactions: Part II – helminth parasites

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1471-4922(00)01775-XGet rights and content

Abstract

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.

Section snippets

Opisthorcis viverrini

The attachment of the Opisthorcis viverrini cercaria to its fish host is stimulated by a.30-kDa component of fish skin mucus 2. The stimulatory effect of this component on attachment was shown to be unaffected when mucus was treated with pronase, trypsin, sialidase or chondroitinase, but was decreased by treatment with hyaluronidase 2. Further experiments using hyaluronic acid alone did not stimulate attachment, suggesting the involvement of other factors. By contrast, the penetration of mucus

Hymenolepis microstoma

Large amounts of complex carbohydrates are present on the surface of the eggs of H. microstoma, and in their vitellocytes. These carbohydrates contain GlcNAc, Gal and GalNAc, but lack glucose, mannose and fucose 16. They might function in egg-shell formation and other interactions between this parasite and its rodent host. Adults of H. microstoma (and also of the trematodes E. caproni and S. mansoni) exhibit surface glycoconjugates that are involved in protecting the parasite while within its

Toxocara canis

Toxocara canis expresses large amounts of a mucin-like glycoprotein (TES-120) on its surface coat in the infective-larval stage. The TES-120 peptide is encoded by the nmuc-1 gene, has a central Ser–Thr-rich region containing a series of seven amino acid repeats (with the consensus sequence Ser-Thr-Ser-Ser-Ser-Ser-Ala), and is heavily O-glycosylated 21. In the event of host antibodies or cells binding to T. canis, this coat is shed, suggesting that TES-120 might be involved in protecting this

Summary

Part I of our discussion of mucins in host–parasite interactions considered protozoan parasties 1. Protozoan parasite mucins are involved in the evasion of host immune responses, and in the temporary immobilization of parasites within their insect vectors. In addition, some protozoan parasites produce enzymes that are capable of degrading host mucins, and host mucins themselves might block the carbohydrate-specific surface lectins of parasites. Many previous studies have examined the role of

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