Hokke C H, Deelder A M
Department of Parasitology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Glycoconj J. 2001 Aug;18(8):573-87. doi: 10.1023/a:1020634602161.
Schistosomes are digenetic trematodes which cause schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia, one of the main parasitic infections in man. In tropical and subtropical areas an estimated 200 million people are infected and suffer from the debilitating effects of this chronic disease. Schistosomes live in the blood vessels and strongly modulate the immune response of their host to be able to survive the hostile environment that they are exposed to. It has become increasingly clear that glycoconjugates of schistosome larvae, adult worms and eggs play an important role in the evasion mechanisms that schistosomes utilise to withstand the immunological measures of the host. Upon infection, the host mounts innate as well as adaptive immune responses to antigenic glycan elements, setting the immunological scene characteristic for schistosomiasis. In this review we summarise the structural data now available on schistosome glycans and provide data and ideas regarding the role that these glycans play in the various aspects of the glycobiology and immunology of schistosomiasis.
血吸虫是双宿主吸虫，可引发血吸虫病，也称为裂体吸虫病，是人类主要的寄生虫感染之一。在热带和亚热带地区，估计有2亿人受到感染，并遭受这种慢性疾病带来的衰弱影响。血吸虫生活在血管中，并强烈调节宿主的免疫反应，以便在其所接触的恶劣环境中生存。越来越明显的是，血吸虫幼虫、成虫和虫卵的糖缀合物在血吸虫用于抵御宿主免疫措施的逃避机制中发挥着重要作用。感染后，宿主会针对抗原性聚糖成分产生先天性和适应性免疫反应，从而形成血吸虫病特有的免疫场景。在本综述中，我们总结了目前关于血吸虫聚糖的结构数据，并提供了有关这些聚糖在血吸虫病糖生物学和免疫学各个方面所起作用的数据和观点。
