Interaction of Trichomonas vaginalis and Tritrichomonas foetus with keratin: an important role in parasite infection
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
; 106(6): 701-704, Sept. 2011. ilus, graf
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-602053
Responsible library:
BR1.1
ABSTRACT
Trichomonas vaginalis and Tritrichomonas foetus are human and bovine parasites, respectively, that provoke the sexually transmitted disease trichomoniasis. These extracellular parasites adhere to the host epithelial cell surface. Although mucinases and proteases have been described as important proteins for parasite adhesion to epithelial cells, no studies have examined the role of the keratin molecules that cornify the vaginal epithelium. Here, we investigated the interaction of T. vaginalis and T. foetus with human keratin in vitro; additionally, adherence assays were performed in cattle with T. foetus to elucidate whether trichomonads were able to interact with keratin in vivo. We demonstrated that both T. vaginalisand T. foetusinteracted directly with keratin. Additionally, the trichomonads ingested and digested keratin, shedding new light on the Trichomonas infection process.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Health context:
Neglected Diseases
Health problem:
Zoonoses
Database:
LILACS
Main subject:
Trichomonas vaginalis
/
Tritrichomonas foetus
/
Epithelial Cells
/
Keratins
Limits:
Animals
/
Female
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
Journal subject:
Tropical Medicine
/
Parasitology
Year:
2011
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Universidade Santa Úrsula/BR