title: Biological roles of cysteine proteinases in the pathogenesis of Trichomonas vaginalis.
abstract: Human trichomonosis, infection with Trichomonas vaginalis, is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease in the world. The host-parasite interaction and pathophysiological processes of trichomonosis remain incompletely understood. This review focuses on the advancements reached in the area of the pathogenesis of T. vaginalis, especially in the role of the cysteine proteinases. It highlights various approaches made in this field and lists a group of trichomonad cysteine proteinases involved in diverse processes such as invasion of the mucous layer, cytoadherence, cytotoxicity, cytoskeleton disruption of red blood cells, hemolysis, and evasion of the host immune response. A better understanding of the biological roles of cysteine proteinases in the pathogenesis of this parasite could be used in the identification of new chemotherapeutic targets. An additional advantage could be the development of a vaccine in order to reduce transmission of T. vaginalis.
authors.affiliation: Parasitology Department, "Pedro Kourí" Tropical Medicine Institute, Havana 10400, Cuba.
authors.forename: Hilda M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.affiliation: Parasitology Department, "Pedro Kourí" Tropical Medicine Institute, Havana 10400, Cuba.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marcet
authors.affiliation: Parasitology Department, "Pedro Kourí" Tropical Medicine Institute, Havana 10400, Cuba.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sarracent
mesh_terms: D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000469:parasitology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000469:parasitology; D057056:Cysteine Proteases / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006461:Hemolysis; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D057131:Immune Evasion; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000469:parasitology; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D014247:Trichomonas Vaginitis / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014621:Vagina / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D007501:Iron; D057056:Cysteine Proteases