Biological Roles of Peptidases in Trypanosomatids

摘要

In this review, we report the recent developments in the characterization of peptidases and their possible biologicalfunctions in the Trypanosomatidae family. The focus will be on peptidases from Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmaniaspp., African trypanosomes and plant and insect trypanosomatids. There are numerous events in parasite developmentwhere the involvement of peptidases has been established, and they will be approached in the present review. Also in thisreview we will discuss the central roles have been proposed for peptidases in diverse processes such as virulence, host cellinteraction and invasion, catabolism of host proteins, differentiation, cell cycle progression and both stimulation and evasionof host immune responses.