Trypanosoma brucei brucei and High-density Lipoproteins: Old and New Thoughts on the ldentity and Mechanism of the Trypanocidal Factor in Human Serum

摘要

Nature has provided humans with a surprising means of protection against the African trypanosome, Trypanosoma brucei brucei There is consensus, in that this singular trypanoadal factor is serum high-density lipoproteins (HDL), which the trypanosomes engulf through a physiological, receptor-mediated pathway for delivery to acidic intracellular vesicles. There is also controversy, however, in that the active particles and their essential cytotoxic elements are disputed, in part reflecting the ill-defined mechanism by which the parasites are finally killed. Here Patrick Lorenz, Bruno Betschart and Jim Owen discuss the possibilities for resolving these discrepancies and speculate on the prospects of exploiting this unexpected property of human HDL for protecting livestock.