Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Persistent pathogens have evolved to avoid elimination by the mammalian immune system including mechanisms to evade complement. Infections with African trypanosomes can persist for years and cause human and animal disease throughout sub-Saharan Africa. It is not known how trypanosomes limit the action of the alternative complement pathway. Here we identify an African trypanosome receptor for mammalian factor H, a negative regulator of the alternative pathway. Structural studies show how the receptor binds ligand, leaving inhibitory domains of factor H free to inactivate complement C3b deposited on the trypanosome surface. Receptor expression is highest in developmental stages transmitted to the tsetse fly vector and those exposed to blood meals in the tsetse gut. Receptor gene deletion reduced tsetse infection, identifying this receptor as a virulence factor for transmission. This demonstrates how a pathogen evolved a molecular mechanism to increase transmission to an insect vector by exploitation of a mammalian complement regulator.

Original publication

DOI

10.1038/s41467-020-15125-y

Type

Journal article

Journal

Nat Commun

Publication Date

12/03/2020

Volume

11

Keywords

Animals, Antibodies, Monoclonal, CHO Cells, Cattle, Cell Membrane, Complement C3b, Complement Factor H, Cricetinae, Cricetulus, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Parasitemia, Protein Binding, Protein Domains, Protozoan Proteins, Receptors, Cell Surface, Trypanosoma, Tsetse Flies, Up-Regulation