title: Exploring the molecular mechanisms of parasite-host interactions with a view towards new therapeutics and vaccines.
abstract: Despite the massive disease burden worldwide caused by parasitic nematodes and other infectious pathogens, the molecular basis of many infectious diseases caused by these pathogens has been unduly neglected for a long time. Therefore, accelerated progress towards novel therapeutics, and ultimately control of such infectious diseases, is of crucial importance. Capitalising on the wealth of data becoming available from proteomic and genomic studies, new protein targets at the pathogen-host interface can be identified and subjected to protein-based explorations of the molecular basis of pathogen-host interactions. By combining the use of systems and structural biology methodologies, insights into the structural and molecular mechanisms of these interactions can assist in the development of therapeutics and/or vaccines. This brief review examines two different proteins from the body wall of blood flukes - annexins and the stress-induced phosphoprotein 1 - both of which are presently interesting targets for the development of therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Structural Chemistry Program, Eskitis Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.affiliation: Structural Chemistry Program, Eskitis Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Klepzig
authors.affiliation: Structural Chemistry Program, Eskitis Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Madeleine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dallaston
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Neil D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Structural Chemistry Program, Eskitis Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Ulla-Maja
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.affiliation: Structural Chemistry Program, Eskitis Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Lyndel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Malcolm K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Robin B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Gasser
authors.affiliation: Structural Chemistry Program, Eskitis Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia.|Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.|Queensland Tropical Health Alliance, Smithfield, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hofmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D006376:Helminths / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D014612:Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D015801:Helminth Proteins; D014612:Vaccines
keywords: helminths; parasite-host interface; tegument proteins