Serine protease inhibitors of parasitic helminths.
Serine protease inhibitors (serpins) are a superfamily of structurally conserved proteins that inhibit serine proteases and play key physiological roles in numerous biological systems such as blood coagulation, complement activation and inflammation. A number of serpins have now been identified in parasitic helminths with putative involvement in immune regulation and in parasite survival through interference with the host immune response. This review describes the serpins and smapins (small serine protease inhibitors) that have been identified in Ascaris spp., Brugia malayi, Ancylostoma caninum Onchocerca volvulus, Haemonchus contortus, Trichinella spiralis, Trichostrongylus vitrinus, Anisakis simplex, Trichuris suis, Schistosoma spp., Clonorchis sinensis, Paragonimus westermani and Echinococcus spp. and discusses their possible biological functions, including roles in host-parasite interplay and their evolutionary relationships.
Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Queensland, Australia. adebayo.molehin@qimr.edu.au
Adebayo J
AJ
Molehin
Geoffrey N
GN
Gobert
Donald P
DP
McManus
D000818:Animals; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000469:parasitology*; D006376:Helminths / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D011487:Protein Conformation; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015843:Serpins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D015801:Helminth Proteins; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; D015843:Serpins