title: How Echinococcus granulosus deals with complement.
abstract: Here, Ana Mar a Ferreira and colleagues discuss the interplay between the larval stages of Echinococcus granulosus and an important effector arm of immunity: the host complement system. During early infection, the parasite activates complement, and hence complement-dependent inflammatory responses. However, on differentiation into the hydatid cyst, the parasite exposes to the host a structure - the cyst wall - that does not activate complement strongly. Mechanisms inhibiting complement activation on the cyst wall have been elucidated, contributing to the understanding of how this large, persistent, tissue-dwelling pathogen controls the inflammatory response.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Department, Faculties of Chemistry and Sciences, University of the Republic, Uruguay. aferrei@bilbo.edu.uy
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Irigoín
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Breijo
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diáz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003167:Complement Activation; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000276:immunology*; D004446:Echinococcus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice