How Echinococcus granulosus deals with complement.
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.
Ferreira
A M
AM
Immunology Department, Faculties of Chemistry and Sciences, University of the Republic, Uruguay. aferrei@bilbo.edu.uy
Irigoín
F
F
Breijo
M
M
Sim
R B
RB
Diáz
A
A
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