title: Echinococcus granulosus antigen B: a Hydrophobic Ligand Binding Protein at the host-parasite interface.
abstract: Lipids are mainly solubilized by various families of lipid binding proteins which participate in their transport between tissues as well as cell compartments. Among these families, Hydrophobic Ligand Binding Proteins (HLBPs) deserve special consideration since they comprise intracellular and extracellular members, are able to bind a variety of fatty acids, retinoids and some sterols, and are present exclusively in cestodes. Since these parasites have lost catabolic and biosynthetic pathways for fatty acids and cholesterol, HLBPs are likely relevant for lipid uptake and transportation between parasite and host cells. Echinococcus granulosus antigen B (EgAgB) is a lipoprotein belonging to the HLBP family, which is very abundant in the larval stage of this parasite. Herein, we review the literature on EgAgB composition, structural organization and biological properties, and propose an integrated scenario in which this parasite HLBP contributes to adaptation to mammalian hosts by meeting both metabolic and immunomodulatory parasite demands.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata (INIBIOLP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)-Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina; Cátedra de Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias/Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República (UdelaR), Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Silva-Álvarez
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias/Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República (UdelaR), Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Ana Maite
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Folle
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias/Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República (UdelaR), Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Ana Lía
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Biofísica, Departamento de Física, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zamarreño
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Biofísica, Departamento de Física, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
authors.forename: Marcelo D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Costabel
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García-Zepeda
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias/Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República (UdelaR), Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salinas
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata (INIBIOLP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)-Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Betina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Córsico
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias/Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República (UdelaR), Montevideo, Uruguay. Electronic address: aferrei@fq.edu.uy.
authors.forename: Ana María
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000469:parasitology; D048209:Echinococcus granulosus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008074:Lipoproteins; C514022:antigen B, Echinococcus granulosus
keywords: Antigen B; Cestode; Echinococcus; HLBP; Lipoprotein; Tapeworm