title: Phytomonas serpens: immunological similarities with the human trypanosomatid pathogens.
abstract: The present review provides an overview of recent discoveries concerning the immunological similarities between Phytomonas serpens, a tomato parasite, and human trypanosomatid pathogens, with special emphasis on peptidases. Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma cruzi express peptidases that are well-known virulence factors, named leishmanolysin and cruzipain. P. serpens synthesizes two distinct classes of proteolytic enzymes, metallo- and cysteine-type peptidases, that share common epitopes with leishmanolysin and cruzipain, respectively. The leishmanolysin-like and cruzipain-like molecules from P. serpens participate in several biological processes including cellular growth and adhesion to the salivary glands of Oncopeltus fasciatus, a phytophagous insect experimental model. Since previous reports demonstrated that immunization of mice with P. serpens induced a partial protective immune response against T. cruzi, this plant trypanosomatid may be a suitable candidate for vaccine studies. Moreover, comparative approaches in the Trypanosomatidae family may be useful to understand kinetoplastid biology, biochemistry and evolution.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Prof. Paulo de Góes (IMPPG), Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Bloco I, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), RJ 21941-590, Brazil. andre@micro.ufrj.br
authors.forename: André L S
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Claudia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: d'Avila-Levy
authors.forename: Camila G R
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Elias
authors.forename: Alane B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Vermelho
authors.forename: Marta H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Branquinha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007891:Leishmania / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000469:parasitology; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000201:enzymology; D014351:Trypanosomatina / Q000145:classification* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D037521:Virulence Factors
chemical_list: D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C063214:cruzipain; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; C055146:glycoprotein gp63, Leishmania