Trypanosoma cruzi shed acute phase antigen |
trypanosome apoptotic factor |
axis inhibitor 1 |
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The trans-sialidase of Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas' disease, is identical with Trypanosoma cruzi shed acute phase antigen (SAPA) (Parodi et al, 1992). The enzyme is shed and can be detected in blood during the acute phase of the disease. The enzyme specifically transfers alpha (2-3)-linked sialic acid from from host glycoconjugates to mucin-like acceptor molecules of the parasite plasma membrane and thus creates a stage-specific epitope on trypomastigotes, which is required for invasion of mammalian cells (Schenkman et al, 1991). The enzyme also has neuraminidase activity (Schenkman et al, 1992).
The enzyme as such has been shown to have immunomodulatory activities and to interfere with cell death by apoptosis
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