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Review
. 2023 Dec;39(12):1014-1022.
doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.09.001. Epub 2023 Sep 25.

Trypanosomes and complement: more than one way to die?

Alexander D Cook  1 , Mark Carrington  2 , Matthew K Higgins  3
Affiliations
Review

Trypanosomes and complement: more than one way to die?

Alexander D Cook et al. Trends Parasitol. 2023 Dec.

Abstract

African trypanosomes show a remarkable ability to survive as extracellular parasites in the blood and tissue spaces of an infected mammal. Throughout the infection they are exposed to the molecules and cells of the immune system, including complement. In this opinion piece, we review decades-worth of evidence about how complement affects African trypanosomes. We highlight the discovery of a trypanosome receptor for complement C3 and we critically assess three recent studies which attempt to provide a structural and mechanistic view of how this receptor helps trypanosomes to survive in the presence of complement.

Keywords: African trypanosome; ISG65; complement factor C3; complement system.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure I
Figure I
The complement system. Abbreviations: C4BP, C4 binding protein; FH, factor H; FI, factor I; MBL, mannose-binding lectin.
Figure 1
Figure 1
How does ISG65 reduce the effects of complement in African trypanosomes? ISG65 (blue) is attached to the trypanosome plasma membrane (green) via a flexible string. This allows it to reach above the VSG surface (grey), where it can bind to C3 derivatives, including C3, C3b, and C3d. How it reduces the destruction of trypanosomes by the complement system is unknown. Abbreviations: ISG65, invariant surface glycoprotein 65; VSG, variant surface glycoprotein.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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