Abstract
Schistosomes are blood-dwelling trematode parasites that infect 200 million people in developing countries. The critical role served by the tegument in immune evasion and parasite homeostasis suggests that a detailed knowledge of tegumental components would be helpful in the design of new drugs and the production of vaccines. We demonstrate here, by immunoelectron microscopy, that the cytoskeletal proteins actin and paramyosin are organized into major tegumental structures of Schistosoma mansoni. The surface spines are composed of paracrystalline arrays of actin filaments. Actin is also present in areas recovering from damage, implying an important role for this structural protein in tegumental repair. Paramyosin exists predominantly in the tegument in a non-filamentous form, the membrane-bounded elongate bodies. The localization of this protein to the tegument of the parasite is the likely basis for resistance to S. mansoni observed in mice immunized with paramyosin (refs 1, 2 and T. P. Flanigen et al., in preparation).
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Pearce, E. J., James, S. L., Dalton, J., Barrall, A., Ramas, C., Strand, M. & Sher, A. J. Immun. 137, 3593–3600 (1986).
Lanar, D. E., Pearce, E. J., James, S. L. & Sher, A. Science 234, 593–596 (1986).
Capron, A., Dessaint, J. P., Capron, M., Quma, J. H. & Butterworth, A. E. Science 238, 1065–1072 (1987).
Simpson, A. J. G. & Cioli, D. Parasit. Today 3, 26–28 (1987).
Morris, G. P. & Threadgold, L. T. J. Parasit. 54, 15–27 (1968).
Smith, J. H., Reynolds, E. S. & von Lichetenberg, F. Am. J. trop Med. Hyg. 18, 28–49 (1969).
Hockley, D. J. & McLaren, D. J. Int. J. Parasit. 3, 13–25 (1973).
Cohen, C., Reinhardt, B., Castellani, L., Norton, P. & Stirewalt, M. J. Cell Biol. 95, 987–988 (1982).
Davis, A. H., Blanton, R. & Klich, P. Molec. Biochem. Parasit. 17, 289–298 (1985).
Abbas, M. K. & Cain, G. D. Parasit. Res. 73, 66–74 (1987).
Galloway, P. G., Perry, G. & Gambetti, P. J. Neuropathol. exp. Neurol. 46, 185–199 (1987).
Carlisle, S., Weisberg, I. S. & Bentley, A. G. J. Parasit. 69, 319–334 (1983).
Bently, A. G. J. Parasit. 68, 1096–1104 (1982).
Shaw, M. K. & Erasmus, D. A. Parasitology 94, 243–254 (1987).
Kassis, A. I., Aikawa, M. & Mahmoud, A. A. F. J. Immun. 122, 398–405 (1979).
McCormick, S. L. & Damian, R. T. J. Parasit. 73, 130–143 (1987).
Elfvin, M., Levine, R. J. C. & Dewey, M. M. J. Cell Biol. 71, 261–272 (1976).
Diano, M., Bivic, A. L. & Hirn, M. Analyt. Biochem. 166, 224–229 (1987).
Epstein, H. F., Miller, D. M. III, Ortiz, I. & Berliner, G. C. J. Cell Biol. 100, 904–915 (1985).
Elliott, A. & Bennett, P. in Basic Biology of Muscles: A Comparative Approach (eds Twarog, B., Levine, R. & Dewey, M.) 11–28 (Raven, New York, 1982).
Szent-Györgyi, A. G., Cohen, C. & Kendrick-Jones, J. J. molec. Biol. 56, 239–258 (1971).
Achazi, R. in Basic Biology of Muscles: A Comparative Approach (eds Twarog, B., Levine,R. & Dewey, M.) 291–308 (Raven, New York, 1982).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Matsumoto, Y., Perry, G., Levine, R. et al. Paramyosin and actin in schistosomal teguments. Nature 333, 76–78 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/333076a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/333076a0
This article is cited by
-
Mapping of the complement C1q binding site on Trichinella spiralis paramyosin
Parasites & Vectors (2018)
-
Smooth muscle-like Ca2+-regulation of actin–myosin interaction in adult jellyfish striated muscle
Scientific Reports (2018)
-
Studies on the establishment of a co-culture system of lung stage Schistosoma japonicum with host cells
Parasitology Research (2012)
-
Immunohistological studies on Onchocerca volvulus paramyosin
Parasitology Research (2009)
-
Gene discovery for the carcinogenic human liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini
BMC Genomics (2007)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
