Zoltner Martin, Horn David, de Koning Harry P, Field Mark C
School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, Scotland, UK.
Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, Scotland, UK.
Curr Opin Microbiol. 2016 Dec;34:97-103. doi: 10.1016/j.mib.2016.08.005. Epub 2016 Sep 9.
Pathogenic protozoa are evolutionarily highly divergent from their metazoan hosts, reflected in many aspects of their biology. One particularly important parasite taxon is the trypanosomatids. Multiple transmission modes, distinct life cycles and exploitation of many host species attests to great prowess as parasites, and adaptability for efficient, chronic infection. Genome sequencing has begun uncovering how trypanosomatids are well suited to parasitism, and recent genetic screening and cell biology are revealing new aspects of how to control these organisms and prevent disease. Importantly, several lines of evidence suggest that membrane transport processes are central for the sensitivity towards several frontline drugs.
致病原生动物在进化上与其后生动物宿主高度不同，这在它们生物学的许多方面都有所体现。一个特别重要的寄生虫类群是锥虫。多种传播方式、独特的生命周期以及对许多宿主物种的利用证明了它们作为寄生虫的强大能力，以及高效、慢性感染的适应性。基因组测序已开始揭示锥虫如何非常适合寄生生活，最近的基因筛选和细胞生物学正在揭示控制这些生物体和预防疾病的新方面。重要的是，几条证据表明膜转运过程对于对几种一线药物的敏感性至关重要。
