Structural details and composition of Trichomonas vaginalis lipophosphoglycan in relevance to the epithelial immune function.

Trichomonas vaginalis causes the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection linked to increased risk of premature birth, cervical cancer and HIV. This study defines molecular domains of the parasite surface glycoconjugate lipophosphoglycan (LPG) with distinct functions in the host immunoinflammatory response. The ceramide phospho-inositol glycan core (CPI-GC) released by mild acid had Mr of approximately 8,700 Da determined by MALDI-TOF MS.

Characterization of a cysteine protease from Tritrichomonas foetus that induces host-cell apoptosis.

Tritrichomonas foetus is a serious veterinary pathogen, causing bovine trichomoniasis and affecting cattle herds world-wide, resulting in inflammation of the genital tract, infertility and huge economic losses. The parasite secretes a cysteine protease (CP8), which induces cytotoxicity and apoptosis in bovine vaginal and uterine epithelial cells. Mallinson et al.

Induction of human host cell apoptosis by Trichomonas vaginalis cysteine proteases is modulated by parasite exposure to iron.

Trichomonas vaginalis is an understudied parasitic organism whose mechanisms of pathogenesis remain unclear. The adherence to host cells, the induction of host cell cytotoxicity and protease activity are all, however, thought to be contributing factors towards the development of the disease. T.

Trichomonas vaginalis lipophosphoglycan triggers a selective upregulation of cytokines by human female reproductive tract epithelial cells.

Trichomonas vaginalis is one of the most common nonviral sexually transmitted human infections and, worldwide, has been linked to increased incidence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transmission, preterm delivery, low birth weight, cervical cancer, and vaginitis. The molecular pathways that are important in initiating host inflammatory and immune responses to T. vaginalis are poorly understood.

In vitro cytopathic effects of a cysteine protease of Tritrichomonas foetus on cultured bovine uterine epithelial cells.

Objective: To evaluate the cytopathic effects of Tritrichomonas foetus and a purified cysteine protease (ie, CP30) of T foetus on cultured bovine uterine epithelial cells (BUECs) in vitro.

Sample Population: 10 reproductive tracts were obtained from late-term bovine fetuses at a commercial abattoir.

Procedure: An in vitro culture system of BUECs was developed to study the cytopathic effects of T foetus and purified CP30 of T foetus on host cells.

Identification of Trichomonas vaginalis cysteine proteases that induce apoptosis in human vaginal epithelial cells.

A secreted cysteine protease (CP) fraction from Trichomonas vaginalis is shown here to induce apoptosis in human vaginal epithelial cells (HVEC) and is analyzed by mass spectrometry. The trichomonad parasite T. vaginalis causes one of the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection in humans, trichomoniasis.