Open AccessLeishmania donovani lipophosphoglycan disrupts phagosome microdomains in J774 macrophages
Author(s) -
Dermine JeanFrançois,
Goyette Guillaume,
Houde Mathieu,
Turco Salvatore J.,
Desjardins Michel
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
cellular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.542
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1462-5822
pISSN - 1462-5814
DOI - 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2005.00550.x
Subject(s) - lipophosphoglycan , phagolysosome , phagosome , biology , leishmania donovani , phagocytosis , leishmania , microbiology and biotechnology , biogenesis , virulence factor , virulence , immunology , leishmaniasis , parasite hosting , visceral leishmaniasis , biochemistry , world wide web , computer science , gene
Summary Clearance of pathogens by phagocytosis and their killing in phagolysosomes is a key aspect of our innate ability to fight infectious agents. Leishmania parasites have evolved ways to survive and replicate in macrophages by inhibiting phagosome maturation and avoiding the harsh environment of phagolysosomes. We describe here that during this process Leishmania donovani uses a novel strategy involving its surface lipophosphoglycan (LPG), a virulence factor impeding many host functions, to prevent the formation or disrupt lipid microdomains on the phagosome membrane. LPG acts locally on the membrane and requires its repetitive carbohydrate moieties to alter the organization of microdomains. Targeting and disruption of functional foci, where proteins involved in key aspects of phagolysosome biogenesis assemble, is likely to confer a survival advantage to the parasite.