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Proteinases of Leishmania mexicana and other flagellate protozoa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

G. H. Coombs
G. H. Coombs
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ
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Summary

The amastigote form of the human pathogen Leishmania mexicana contains high proteinase activity, some 20 times greater than that in the promastigote form and macrophages and appreciably higher than the activity in other flagellate protozoa. The main amastigote enzymes are soluble, whereas those of the promastigote are particulate, and have inhibitor sensitivities characteristic of cysteine proteinases. The very high soluble proteinase activity of L. mexicana amastigotes may be a primary factor in the survival and growth of this mammalian stage in its potentially degradative intracellular habitat.

Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 84 , Issue 1 , February 1982 , pp. 149 - 155
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1982

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