Immunity to Protozoan Parasites

Marcela F Lopes,Mauricio M Rodrigues,Dario S Zamboni,Hugo D Lujan

doi:10.1155/2012/250793

Abstract

Immunity to Protozoan Parasites

Highlights

The discovery of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) devoted to detection of pathogen- or microbe-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs/MAMPs) fostered a vibrant research in the past decade, identifying new receptors, new ligands on pathogens, and key signaling pathways inducing innate immunity [1,2,3]
Further research will be required to define target antigens involved in distinct biological activities of vector’s saliva for novel vaccines against Leishmania spp. infections. Another four papers review the role of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) on immunity to parasitic infections, their ligands, Journal of Parasitology Research and how this knowledge can be translated into PAMP-based adjuvants for novel vaccine strategies
Authors present what we have learnt from experiments performed in mice defective in one or multiple TLRs or key signaling molecules to gain insight into their role on immunity triggered by protozoan PAMPs, with emphasis on T. cruzi and Leishmania infections

Summary

Introduction

The discovery of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) devoted to detection of pathogen- or microbe-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs/MAMPs) fostered a vibrant research in the past decade, identifying new receptors, new ligands on pathogens, and key signaling pathways inducing innate immunity [1,2,3]. It is not surprising that about 70% of the papers published here deal with early steps of immune responses to protozoan infections, including the role of parasite products, host receptors, molecular mechanisms, and effector cells of innate immune system. In “New insights on the inflammatory role of Lutzomyia longipalpis saliva in Leishmaniasis”, the authors discuss how immunization against vector’s saliva components might help development of a new approach to prevent Leishmaniasis.

Results

Conclusion