Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Microbial Surface Elements: The Case of Variant Surface Glycoprotein (VSG) Genes of African Trypanosomes

  • Chapter
Genetic Engineering

Part of the book series: Genetic Engineering ((GEPM))

Abstract

Trypanosoma brucei and its related species (T. congolense, T. equiperdum and T. vivax) are hemoparasitic, flagellated protozoa that are the causative pathogenic agents of African sleeping sickness in humans (T. brucei rhodesiense and T. brucei gambiense) and in domestic animals. T. brucei is transmitted by the tsetse fly (genus Glossina) thereby largely restricting these diseases to the African continent. During its life cycle in the fly and subsequently in the mammalian host, T. brucei normally appears to be pleomorphic in nature exhibiting several distinctive morphological forms (1). Slender bloodstream forms are present in the initial stages of an infection while nondividing, stumpy forms accumulate at later times. The stumpy forms are ingested by the fly and are transformed into procyclic forms (the only stage lacking a defined surface coat) in the midgut of the fly (2,3). The procyclic forms eventually migrate into the salivary glands where they differentiate into a heterogeneous population of metacyclic forms which are transmitted back to the host to complete the life cycle. Evolution has imparted intricate mechanisms to the trypanosomes for maintaining chronic infections in their mammalian hosts, thereby allowing for cyclical transmission via the tsetse fly. This unique phenomenon appears to be manifested by the ability of infectious trypanosomes to temporally alter this surface antigen structure thereby evading the host’s immune response (1,4-7). The net result is that T. brucei is a brilliant parasite.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Vickerman, K. (1978) Nature 273, 613–617.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Seed, J.R. (1964) Parasitology 54, 593–596.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Barry, D. (1977) J. Protozool. 24, 5A.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Gray, A.R. (1965) J. Gen. Microbiol. 41, 195–214.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Vickerman, K. and Luckins, A.G. (1969) Nature 224, 1125–1126.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Cross, G.A.M. (1975) Parasitology 71, 398–417.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Doyle, J.J. (1977) in Immunity to Blood Parasites in Animals and May (Miller, L., Pino, J. and McKelvey, J.,eds.),pp. 27–63, Plenum Press, New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ross, R. and Thomson, D. (1910) Proc. R. Soc.Lond. B82, 411–415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Cross, G.A.M. and Manning, J.C. (1973) Parasitology 67, 315–331.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. vanMeirvenne, N., Janssens, P.G., Magnus, E., Lumsden,W.H.R.and Herbert, W.J. (1975) Ann. Soc. Belge Méd. Trop. 55, 1–23.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Capbern, A., Giroud, C., Baltz, T. and Mattern, P. (1977)Exp. Parasitol. 42, 6–13.

    Google Scholar 

  12. LeRay, D., Barry, J.D. and Vickerman, K. (1978) Nature 273, 300–302.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Doyle, J.J., Hirumi, H., Hirumi, K., Lupton, E.N. and Cross,G.A.M. (1980) Parasitology 80, 359–369.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Vickerman, K. (1969) J. Cell Science 5, 163–194.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Allsopp, B.A., Njogu, A.R. and Humphryes, K.C. (1971) Exp.Parasitol. 29, 271–284.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Allsopp, B.A. and Njogu, A.R. (1974) Parasitology 69, 271–281.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Bridgen, P.J., Cross, G.A.M. and Bridgen, J. (1976) Nature 263, 613–614.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Johnson, J.G. and Cross, G.A.M. (1979) Biochem. J. 178, 689–697.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Cross, G.A.M. (1977) Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 26, 240–244.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Cross, G.A.M. (1979) Nature 277, 310–312.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Holder, A.A. and Cross, G.A.M. (1980) Mol. Biochem. Parasi-tol. (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Barbet, A.F. and McGuire, T.C. (1978) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci.U.S.A. 75, 1989–1993.

    Google Scholar 

  23. vanMeirvenne, N., Magnus, E. and Vervoort, T. (1977) Ann.Soc. Belge Méd. Trop. 57, 409–423.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Vervoort, T. et al. (1980) submitted for publication.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Barbet, A.F. (personal communication).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Eggitt, M.J., Tappenden, L. and Brown, K.N. (1977) Parasi-tology 75, 133–141.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Williams, R.O., Marcu, K.B., Young, J.R., Rovis, L. and Williams, S.C. (1978) Nucl. Acids Res. 5, 3171–3182.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Lheureux, M., Lheureux, M., Vervoort, T., vanMeirvenne, M. and Steinert, M. (1979) Nucl. Acids Res. 7, 595–609.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Williams, R.O., Young, J.R. and Majiwa, P.A.O. (1979) Nature 282, 847–849.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Hoeijmakers, J.H.J., Borst, P., van den Burg, J., Weissmann,C. and Cross, G.A.M. (1980) Gene 8, 391–417.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Merritt, S.C. (1980) Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 1, 151–166.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Shapiro, S.Z. and Young, J.R. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  33. Agabian, N., Sibley, L., Milhausen, M. and Stuart, K. (1980)Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  34. Paterson, B.M., Roberts, B.E. and Kuff, E.L. (1977) Proc.Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 74, 4370–4374.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Alwine, J.C., Kemp, D.J. and Stark, G.R. (1977) Proc. Nat.Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 74, 5350–5354.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Hoeijmakers, J.H.J., Frasch, A.C.C., Bernards, A., Borst,P. and Cross, G.A.M. (1980) Nature 284, 78–80.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Chen, K., Donelson, J.E. and Williams, R.O. (unpublished data).

    Google Scholar 

  38. Roelantz, G. (personal communication).

    Google Scholar 

  39. Young, J.R. (personal communication).

    Google Scholar 

  40. Boothroyd, J.C., Cross, G.A.M., Hoeijmakers, J.H.J. and Borst, P. (1980) Nature (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  41. Davis, B.D. and Tai, P.-C. (1980) Nature 283, 433–438.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Boothroyd, J.C. and Allen, G. (unpublished data).

    Google Scholar 

  43. Shapiro, S.Z. and Doyle, J.J. (unpublished data).

    Google Scholar 

  44. Williams, R.O., Young, J.R., Majiwa, P.A.O., Doyle, J. and Shapiro, S.Z. (1980) Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  45. Shapiro, S.Z. (personal communication).

    Google Scholar 

  46. Doyle, J.J., Behin, R., Mauel, J. and Rowe, D.S. (1975) Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 254, 315–325.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Doyle, J.J. (personal communication).

    Google Scholar 

  48. Borst, P., Frasch, A.C.C., Bernards, A., vand der Ploeg,L.H.T., Hoeijmakers, J.H.J., Annberg, A.C. and Cross, G.A.M. (1981) Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. 45 (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  49. Agabian, N. (personal communication).

    Google Scholar 

  50. Longacre, S., Hibner, U., Baltz, T. and Eisen, H. (unpub-lished data).

    Google Scholar 

  51. Hicks, J., Strathern, J.N. and Klar, A.J.S. (1979) Nature 282, 478–483.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Borst, P., Fase-Fouler, F., Frasch, A.C.C., Hoeijmakers,J.H.J. and Weijers, P.J. (1980) Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 1 (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  53. Tait, A. (1980) Nature 287, 536–538.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Targett, G.A.T. and Wilson, V.C.L.C. (1973) Intern. J. Para-sitol. 3, 5–11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Rifkin, M.R. (1978) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 75, 3450–3454.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Pelham, H.R.B. and Jackson, R.J. (1976) Eur. J. Biochem. 67, 247–256.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Wickens, M.P., Buell, G.N. and Schimke, R.T. (1978) J.Biol. Chem. 253, 2483–2495.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Lobian, P.E. and Kaiser, A.D. (1973) J. Mol. Biol. 78, 453–471.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Grunstein, M. and Hogness, D. (1975) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci.U.S.A. 3961–3965.

    Google Scholar 

  60. Southern, E.M. (1975) J. Mol. Biol. 98, 503–517.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. Rigby, P.W.J., Diekmann, M., Rhodes, C. and Berg, P. (1977) J. Mol. Biol. 113, 237–251.

    Google Scholar 

  62. Wahl, C.M., Stern, M. and Stark, G.R. (1979) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 76, 3683–3687.

    Google Scholar 

  63. Blattner, F.R., Blechl, A.E., Thompson, D.K., Faber, H.E., Richards, J.E., Slightom, J.L., Tucker, P.W. and Smithies, 0. (1978) Science 202, 1279–1283.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Marcu, K.B., Banjeri, J., Penncavage, N.A., Lang, R. and Arnheim, N. (1980) Cell 22, 187–196.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biochemistry Department, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York, 11794, USA

    Kenneth B. Marcu

  2. ILRAD, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya

    Richard O. Williams

Authors
  1. Kenneth B. Marcu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Richard O. Williams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, USA

    Jane K. Setlow

  2. Associated Universities, Inc., Washington, D.C., USA

    Alexander Hollaender

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1981 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Marcu, K.B., Williams, R.O. (1981). Microbial Surface Elements: The Case of Variant Surface Glycoprotein (VSG) Genes of African Trypanosomes. In: Setlow, J.K., Hollaender, A. (eds) Genetic Engineering. Genetic Engineering. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7075-2_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7075-2_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4615-7077-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-7075-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation