The protozoan parasites Leishmania, Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma brucei show multiple features consistent with a form of programmed cell death (PCD). Despite some similarities with apoptosis of mammalian cells, PCD in trypanosomatid protozoans appears to be significantly different. In these unicellular organisms, PCD could represent an altruistic mechanism for the selection of cells, from the parasite population, that are fit to be transmitted to the next host. Alternatively, PCD could help in controlling the population of parasites in the host, thereby increasing host survival and favoring parasite transmission, as proposed by Seed and Wenk. Therefore, PCD in trypanosomatid parasites may represent a pathway involved both in survival and propagation of the species.
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机译:原生动物寄生虫利什曼原虫,克氏锥虫和布鲁氏锥虫显示出多种特征,与程序性细胞死亡(PCD)的形式一致。尽管与哺乳动物细胞凋亡有一些相似之处,但锥虫原虫中的PCD似乎有显着差异。在这些单细胞生物中,PCD可能代表了一种利他机制,可以从寄生虫种群中选择适合传播给下一个宿主的细胞。另外,如Seed and Wenk所提出的,PCD可以帮助控制寄主中的寄生虫数量,从而增加寄主的存活率并促进寄生虫的传播。因此,锥虫的寄生虫中的PCD可能代表了该物种的生存和繁殖的途径。
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