Targeting the Variable Surface of African Trypanosomes with Variant Surface Glycoprotein-Specific, Serum-Stable RNA Aptamers

AUTOR(ES)

Lorger, Mihaela

FONTE

American Society for Microbiology

RESUMO

African trypanosomes cause sleeping sickness in humans and Nagana in cattle. The parasites multiply in the blood and escape the immune response of the infected host by antigenic variation. Antigenic variation is characterized by a periodic change of the parasite protein surface, which consists of a variant glycoprotein known as variant surface glycoprotein (VSG). Using a SELEX (systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment) approach, we report the selection of small, serum-stable RNAs, so-called aptamers, that bind to VSGs with subnanomolar affinity. The RNAs are able to recognize different VSG variants and bind to the surface of live trypanosomes. Aptamers tethered to an antigenic side group are capable of directing antibodies to the surface of the parasite in vitro. In this manner, the RNAs might provide a new strategy for a therapeutic intervention to fight sleeping sickness.

Documentos Relacionados

• Crossreacting determinants in variant-specific surface antigens of African trypanosomes.
• Biochemical and immunological characterization of the variant surface coat glycoprotein shed by African trypanosomes.
• Analysis of a donor gene region for a variant surface glycoprotein and its expression site in African trypanosomes
• Stable variant-specific transcripts of the variant cell surface glycoprotein gene 1.8 expression site in Trypanosoma brucei.
• Uukuniemi virus maturation: immunofluorescence microscopy with monoclonal glycoprotein-specific antibodies.