Susceptible hosts: a resort for parasites right in the eye of the immune response.
Trypanosomatid protozoan parasites express an aggressive strategy of parasitism by infecting host macrophages and inducing extensive T-lymphocyte activation. One goal of such strategy is to drive the immune response of genetically susceptible hosts to a state of unresponsiveness regarding parasite killing. Unresponsiveness is achieved through different mechanisms, depending on the parasite species. In this brief review, recent findings on the molecular and cellular bases of the parasites' exploitation of host immune responses are discussed.
Laboratório de Biologia Imunitária, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, Brasil. gdosreis@biof.ufrj.br
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D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000502:physiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000502:physiology*