Biomaterial Database

Antigenic variation in African trypanosomes: monitoring progress. 2004

Richard McCulloch

Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Anderson College, 56 Dumbarton Road, Glasgow, G11 6NU, UK. rmc9z@udcf.gla.ac.uk

Antigenic variation is central to the success of African trypanosomes and other eukaryotic, bacterial and viral pathogens. Our understanding of the control and execution of this immune evasion strategy in trypanosomes is incomplete, despite the molecular basis of antigenic variation being first described over 20 years ago. Recent research progress in this field is highlighted here and some of the unresolved questions raised.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D005960	Glucosides	A GLYCOSIDE that is derived from GLUCOSE.	Glucoside
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000940	Antigenic Variation	Change in the surface ANTIGEN of a microorganism. There are two different types. One is a phenomenon, especially associated with INFLUENZA VIRUSES, where they undergo spontaneous variation both as slow antigenic drift and sudden emergence of new strains (antigenic shift). The second type is when certain PARASITES, especially trypanosomes, PLASMODIUM, and BORRELIA, survive the immune response of the host by changing the surface coat (antigen switching). (From Herbert et al., The Dictionary of Immunology, 4th ed)	Antigen Switching,Antigenic Diversity,Variation, Antigenic,Antigen Variation,Antigenic Switching,Antigenic Variability,Switching, Antigenic,Diversity, Antigenic,Switching, Antigen,Variability, Antigenic,Variation, Antigen
D014158	Transcription, Genetic	The biosynthesis of RNA carried out on a template of DNA. The biosynthesis of DNA from an RNA template is called REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION.	Genetic Transcription
D014346	Trypanosoma brucei brucei	A hemoflagellate subspecies of parasitic protozoa that causes nagana in domestic and game animals in Africa. It apparently does not infect humans. It is transmitted by bites of tsetse flies (Glossina).	Trypanosoma brucei,Trypanosoma brucei bruceus,Trypanosoma bruceus,brucei brucei, Trypanosoma,brucei, Trypanosoma brucei,bruceus, Trypanosoma,bruceus, Trypanosoma brucei
D014353	Trypanosomiasis, African	A disease endemic among people and animals in Central Africa. It is caused by various species of trypanosomes, particularly T. gambiense and T. rhodesiense. Its second host is the TSETSE FLY. Involvement of the central nervous system produces "African sleeping sickness." Nagana is a rapidly fatal trypanosomiasis of horses and other animals.	African Sleeping Sickness,Nagana,African Trypanosomiasis,African Sleeping Sicknesses,African Trypanosomiases,Sickness, African Sleeping,Sicknesses, African Sleeping,Sleeping Sickness, African,Sleeping Sicknesses, African,Trypanosomiases, African
D014498	Uracil	One of four nucleotide bases in the nucleic acid RNA.
D014643	Variant Surface Glycoproteins, Trypanosoma	Glycoproteins attached to the surface coat of the trypanosome. Many of these glycoproteins show amino acid sequence diversity expressed as antigenic variations. This continuous development of antigenically distinct variants in the course of infection ensures that some trypanosomes always survive the development of immune response to propagate the infection.	Surface Variant Glycoproteins, Trypanosoma,Trypanosoma Variant Surface Coat Glycoproteins,SSP-4,VSG 117,VSG 118,VSG 221
D014644	Genetic Variation	Genotypic differences observed among individuals in a population.	Genetic Diversity,Variation, Genetic,Diversity, Genetic,Diversities, Genetic,Genetic Diversities,Genetic Variations,Variations, Genetic