Structural highlights
FunctionVSM2_TRYBB VSG forms a coat on the surface of the parasite. The trypanosome evades the immune response of the host by expressing a series of antigenically distinct VSGs from an estimated 1000 VSG genes. Publication Abstract from PubMedThe African trypanosome survives the immune response of its mammalian host by antigenic variation of its major surface antigen (the variant surface glycoprotein or VSG). Here we describe the antibody repertoires elicited by different VSGs. We show that the repertoires are highly restricted and are directed predominantly to distinct epitopes on the surface of the VSGs. They are also highly discriminatory; minor alterations within these exposed epitopes confer antigenically distinct properties to these VSGs and elicit different repertoires. We propose that the patterned and repetitive nature of the VSG coat focuses host immunity to a restricted set of immunodominant epitopes per VSG, eliciting a highly stereotyped response, minimizing cross-reactivity between different VSGs and facilitating prolonged immune evasion through epitope variation. Immunodominant surface epitopes power immune evasion in the African trypanosome.,Gkeka A, Aresta-Branco F, Triller G, Vlachou EP, van Straaten M, Lilic M, Olinares PDB, Perez K, Chait BT, Blatnik R, Ruppert T, Verdi JP, Stebbins CE, Papavasiliou FN Cell Rep. 2023 Mar 28;42(3):112262. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112262. Epub 2023 , Mar 20. PMID:36943866[1] From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. References
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