title: Malaria parasites adopt host cell superoxide dismutase.
abstract: Aerobic organisms depend on superoxide dismutase to suppress the formation of dangerous species of activated oxygen. Intraerythrocytic stages of the malaria parasite exist within a highly aerobic environment and cause the generation of increased amounts of activated oxygen. Plasmodium berghei in mice was found to derive a substantial amount of superoxide dismutase activity from the host cell cytoplasm. Plasmodia isolated from mouse red cells contained mouse superoxide dismutase, whereas rat-derived parasites contained the rat enzyme. This is believed to be the first example of the acquisition of a host cell enzyme by an intracellular parasite.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000469:parasitology; D007526:Isoelectric Point; D008288:Malaria / Q000201:enzymology*; D051379:Mice; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000201:enzymology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D013482:Superoxide Dismutase