title: Erythrophagocytosis of desialylated red blood cells is responsible for anaemia during Trypanosoma vivax infection.
abstract: Trypanosomal infection-induced anaemia is a devastating scourge for cattle in widespread regions. Although Trypanosoma vivax is considered as one of the most important parasites regarding economic impact in Africa and South America, very few in-depth studies have been conducted due to the difficulty of manipulating this parasite. Several hypotheses were proposed to explain trypanosome induced-anaemia but mechanisms have not yet been elucidated. Here, we characterized a multigenic family of trans-sialidases in T. vivax, some of which are released into the host serum during infection. These enzymes are able to trigger erythrophagocytosis by desialylating the major surface erythrocytes sialoglycoproteins, the glycophorins. Using an ex vivo assay to quantify erythrophagocytosis throughout infection, we showed that erythrocyte desialylation alone results in significant levels of anaemia during the acute phase of the disease. Characterization of virulence factors such as the trans-sialidases is vital to develop a control strategy against the disease or parasite.
authors: Microbiologie fondamentale et Pathogénicité, UMR 5234, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
authors: Fabien
authors: F
authors: Guegan
authors: Nicolas
authors: N
authors: Plazolles
authors: Théo
authors: T
authors: Baltz
authors: Virginie
authors: V
authors: Coustou
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000740:Anemia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006021:Glycophorins / Q000378:metabolism; D006023:Glycoproteins; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000502:physiology*; D016689:Trypanosoma vivax / Q000201:enzymology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D006021:Glycophorins; D006023:Glycoproteins; C069715:trans-sialidase; D009439:Neuraminidase; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid