Trichomonas vaginalis surface proteins: a view from the genome

Trends Parasitol. 2007 Nov;23(11):540-7. doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2007.08.020. Epub 2007 Oct 24.

Abstract

Surface proteins of mucosal microbial pathogens play multiple and essential roles in initiating and sustaining the colonization of the heavily defended mucosa. The protist Trichomonas vaginalis is one of the most common human sexually transmitted pathogens that colonize the urogenital mucosa. However, little is known about its surface proteins. The recently completed draft genome sequence of T. vaginalis provides an invaluable resource to guide molecular and cellular characterization of surface proteins and to investigate their role in pathogenicity. Here, we review the existing data on T. vaginalis surface proteins and summarize some of the main findings from the recent in silico characterization of its candidate surface proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Genome, Protozoan*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Proteome / genetics
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics*
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Trichomonas vaginalis / genetics*
  • Trichomonas vaginalis / metabolism

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins
  • Proteome
  • Protozoan Proteins