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The central roles of telomeres and subtelomeres in antigenic variation in African trypanosomes

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Abstract

Telomeres and subtelomeres are important to the virulence of a number of pathogens, as they harbour large diverse gene families associated with the maintenance of infection. Evasion of immunity by African trypanosomes involves the differential expression of variant surface glycoproteins (VSGs), which are encoded by a family of >1500 genes and pseudogenes. This silent archive is located subtelomerically and is activated by gene conversion into specialized transcription units, which themselves are subject to silencing by allelic exclusion. Current research addresses the role of telomeres in the conversion and silencing mechanisms and in the diversification of the VSG archive.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK

    David Horn

  2. The Anderson College, University of Glasgow, 56 Dumbarton Rd, Glasgow, G11 6NU, UK

    J. David Barry

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  1. David Horn
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  2. J. David Barry
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Correspondence to J. David Barry.

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Horn, D., Barry, J.D. The central roles of telomeres and subtelomeres in antigenic variation in African trypanosomes. Chromosome Res 13, 525–533 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10577-005-0991-8

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