The Role of Lectins in Immune Recognition of Giardia

描述（由申请方提供）：贾第鞭毛虫是世界上最常见的引起腹泻的原生动物。它感染了全世界约5亿人，通常导致营养吸收不良，这可能导致儿童的身体和认知发育缺陷。最近的数据表明，寄生虫是能够糖基化分泌和表面蛋白与N-乙酰葡糖胺和这种糖的甘露糖结合凝集素（MBL）的识别可以激活补体级联。我们的假设是宿主凝集素对寄生虫糖蛋白的识别在激活先天性和适应性免疫应答中起着重要作用。我们将通过检查缺乏宿主凝集素的小鼠的感染和检查对感染过程以及先天性和适应性免疫应答的影响来具体解决这一问题。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Giardia lamblia is the most common protozoan cause of diarrhea in the world. It infects ~500 million people worldwide, often resulting in nutrient malabsorption which can lead to physical and cognitive developmental defects in children. Recent data suggest that the parasite is able to glycosylate secreted and surface proteins with N-acetylglucosamine and that recognition of this sugar by the mannose binding lectin (MBL) can activate the complement cascade. Our hypothesis is that recognition of parasite glycoproteins by host lectins plays a significant role in activating both innate and adaptive immune responses. We will address this specifically by examining infections in mice lacking host lectins and examining the impact on the course of infection and the innate and adaptive immune responses.