Binding of von Willebrand factor and plasma proteins to the eggshell of Schistosoma mansoni

Abstract

Schistosoma mansoni eggs have to cross the endothelium and intestinal wall to leave the host and continue the life cycle. Mechanisms involved in this essential step are largely unknown. Here we describe direct binding to the S. mansoni eggshell of von Willebrand factor and other plasma proteins involved in haemostasis. Using deletion-mutants, we demonstrated that it is the A1 domain of von Willebrand factor that binds to the eggshell. Our results suggest that binding of plasma proteins to the eggshell promotes binding to the endothelium, initiating the passage of the egg through the blood-vessel wall to be excreted in the end.

Keywords: Egg excretion; Eggshell; Haemostasis; Plasma proteins; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis; von Willebrand factor.