Comparative investigation of lipid binding proteins of parasitic nematodes from the genus Trichinella

由旋毛虫属寄生线虫引起的旋毛虫病在欧洲，特别是东欧仍然存在，那里每年发生数百例人类旋毛虫病病例。寄生线虫产生的过敏原包括脂质结合蛋白（lbp）。蠕虫体内高水平的疏水结合蛋白及其受限的脂质代谢表明，这些蛋白在代谢中起着重要作用，因此可能是化疗和疫苗开发的靶点。目的是通过分子、生化和结构等方法获得旋毛虫lbp的功能、结构和免疫学信息。该项目将提高对线虫脂质转运机制及其在寄生虫-宿主相互作用中的作用的理解。

Trichinellosis, caused by parasitic nematodes of the genus Trichinella is still present in Europe, especially in Eastern Europe, where hundreds of human trichinellosis cases occur yearly. Among the allergens produced by parasitic nematodes are the Lipid Binding Proteins (LBPs). The high levels of hydrophobic binding proteins in helminths, together with their restricted lipid metabolism suggests that these proteins play an important role in metabolism and, as such, are putative targets for chemotherapy and vaccine development. The objective of the proposal is to obtain functional, structural and immunological information about Trichinella LBPs using molecular, biochemical and structural methods. The project will improve the understanding of lipid transport mechanisms in nematodes and their role in parasite-host interactions.