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Phosphorylcholine (PC), a small haptenic molecule, is found in a wide variety of prokaryotic organisms,  i. e.  bacteria, and in eukaryotic parasites such as nematodes, as well as in fungi. Linked to parasite-specific glycoprotein glycans or glycolipids, it is assumed to be responsible for a variety of immunological effects, including invasion mechanisms and long-term persistence of parasites within the host. Numerous reports have indicated various effects of PC-substituted molecules derived from parasitic nematodes on signal transduction pathways in B and T lymphocytes, displaying a highly adapted and profound modulation of the immune system by these parasites. The Nematoda, comprising parasitic and free-living species, can be regarded as promising prototypic systems for structural analyses, immunological studies and biosynthetic investigations. In this context,  Ascaris suum , the pig parasitic nematode, is an ideal organism for immunological studies and an excellent source for obtaining large amounts of PC-substituted (macro)-molecules.  Caenorhabditis elegans , as a completely genome-sequenced species and expressing parasite analogous PC-substituted structures, together with the possibility for easy  in vitro  cultivation, represents a conceptual model for biosynthetic studies, whereas filarial parasites represent important model systems for human pathogens, especially in developing countries. This review summarises current knowledge on the tissue-specific expression of PC epitopes, structural data of glycoprotein glycans and glycosphingolipids bearing this substituent and biological implications for the immune systems of the respective hosts.

Phosphorylcholine Substituents in Nematodes: Structures, Occurrence and Biological Implications