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Afr.
J.
Microbiol. Res
Vol. 1 No.
7
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Steverding D
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African Journal of
Microbiology Research Vol. 1 (7), 104-112,
December, 2007
ISSN 1996-0808 © 2007 Academic Journals
Review
Antigenic variation in pathogenic
micro-organisms: similarities and differences
Dietmar Steverding
BioMedical Research Centre,
School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice,
University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
E-mail:
dsteverding@hotmail.com. E-mail:
dsteverding@
hotmail.com.
Accepted 13
December, 2007 |
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Antigenic variation is a
process by which pathogenic micro-organisms
escape the immune response of their mammalian
hosts. By convergent evolution, protozoal,
fungal and bacterial pathogens have developed
similar genetic mechanisms for true antigenic
variation. In this review article, the biology,
the surface antigens and their encoding genes,
and the molecular mechanisms of antigenic
variation of the protozoa Trypanosoma brucei,
Plasmodium falciparum, Babesia bovis,
Giardia lamblia, the fungus
Pneumocystis carinii, and the bacteria
Borrelia hermsii, Anaplasma marginale,
Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma
bovis and Campylobacter fetus are
compared.
Key words:
Antigenic variation, pathogens, micro-organisms,
molecular mechanisms; immune evasion. |
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