Glycoconjugate structures of parasitic protozoa

Abstract

Glycoconjugates are abundant and ubiquitious on the surface of many protozoan parasites. Their tremendous diversity has implicated their critical importance in the life cycle of these organisms. This review highlights our current knowledge of the major glycoconjugates, with particular emphasis on their structures, of representative protozoan parasites, including Leishmania, Trypanosoma, Giardia, Plasmodia, and others.