The surface glycoconjugates of parasitic protozoa: potential targets for new drugs

Abstract

Protozoan parasites are the cause of many diseases in humans and their domestic livestock. Glycoconjugates (i.e. glycoproteins, glycolipids) on the cell surface of these extremely diverse and very primative eukaryotes play a crucial role in determining the specificity of the host‐parasite interaction and in protecting the parasites within their respective hosts. These molecules frequently share a common structural feature in that they are attached to the plasma membrane via a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) glycolipid. While GPI protein‐membrane anchors are ubiquitous among the eukaryotes, they are used with exceptionally high frequency in the protozoa. Some kinetopastidparasites also syn..