BIOCHEMICAL CYTOLOGY OF HOST-PARASITE INTERACTIONS IN PARASITIC PROTOZOA

利什曼原虫和弓形虫的细胞生物学研究如下 细胞内寄生的模型。重点放在刻画 其表面膜的生化和生理功能 (SM)和秘密组件以定义这些组件的角色 寄生虫生存和发育中的成分。 利什曼原虫和克里斯迪亚原虫表面均甲基化。 (SM)响应环境胁迫的蛋白质。累积数量 数据表明，这些生物能够适应环境的变化 利用甲基化作为快速修饰/调节SM蛋白的手段 功能在原位。一个L.基因组克隆的800多个核苷酸。 多诺瓦尼分泌型酸性磷酸酶已经测序，并正在进行 用作探针以获得该基因的全长cdna拷贝。 克隆这种独特基因的实验也在进行中。 锥虫SM酶，3‘-核苷酸酶。设计的方法是为了 大量感染性细菌的体外连续培养 杜诺瓦尼利什曼原虫和其他五种利什曼原虫的无鞭毛体。这些是 关于它们的细胞生物学、SM-生化和 生理学。此外，在分子水平上，独特表达的基因 这些无鞭毛体正被用作研究寄生虫基因的探针。 调控分化和发展。此外，研究还包括 发起关于弓形虫功能SM生物化学的研究。 目前的结果对改进的发展具有重要意义 针对这些疾病的诊断、化疗和免疫预防药物 重要的人类病原体。

The cell biology of both Leishmania and Toxoplasma are investigated as models of intracellular parasitism. Emphasis is placed on characterizing the biochemical and physiological functions of their surface membranes (SM) and secreted components toward defining the roles of these constituents in parasite survival and development. Both Leishmania and Crithidia were shown to methylate surface membrane (SM) proteins in response to environmental stress. Cumulative quantitative data indicate that these organisms can adapt to environmental changes using methylation as a means to rapidly modify/regulate SM protein functions in situ. Over 800 nucleotides of a genomic clone of an L. donovani secretory acid phosphatase has been sequenced, and it is being used as a probe to obtain a full length cDNA copy of this gene. Experiments are also in progress toward cloning the gene for the unique trypanosomatid SM enzyme, 3'-nucleotidase. Methods were devised for the continuous in vitro cultivation of large quantities of infectious amastigotes from L. donovani and five other Leishmania species. These are being characterized with regard to their cell biology, SM-biochemistry and physiology. Further, at the molecular level, genes uniquely expressed by these amastigotes are being used as probes to study parasite gene regulated differentiation and development. In addition, studies were initiated concerning the functional SM biochemistry of Toxoplasma gondii. The current results are of relevance toward the development of improved diagnostic, chemotherapeutic and immunoprophylactic agents against these important human pathogens.