Flypaper for parasites.
In this issue, Kamhawi et al. (2004) describe the identification of an insect galectin as the receptor for the stage-specific Leishmania adhesin lipophosphoglycan (LPG). This interaction is critical for parasite survival in the midgut of its sand fly vector. The results open new avenues for studies of insect immunity, transmission binding vaccines, and host-parasite coevolution.
Beverley
Stephen M
SM
Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University Medical School, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Dobson
Deborah E
DE
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D037161:Galectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006028:Glycosphingolipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D007891:Leishmania / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*
D037161:Galectins; D006028:Glycosphingolipids; C008290:lipophosphonoglycan