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The cathepsin-like cysteine peptidases of trematodes of the genus Fasciola

  • Queen's University of Belfast
  • University of Technology Sydney
  • Federal University of Paraná
  • Dublin City University

Research output: Chapter in Book or Conference Publication/ProceedingChapterpeer-review

58 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Fasciolosis caused by trematode parasites of the genus Fasciola is a global disease of livestock, particularly cattle, sheep, water buffalo and goats. It is also a major human zoonosis with reports suggesting that 2.4–17 million people are infected worldwide, and 91.1 million people currently living at risk of infection. A unique feature of these worms is their reliance on a family of developmentally-regulated papain-like cysteine peptidases, termed cathepsins. These proteolytic enzymes play central roles in virulence, infection, tissue migration and modulation of host innate and adaptive immune responses. The availability of a Fasciola hepatica genome, and the exploitation of transcriptomic and proteomic technologies to probe parasite growth and development, has enlightened our understanding of the cathepsin-like cysteine peptidases. Here, we clarify the structure of the cathepsin-like cysteine peptidase families and, in this context, review the phylogenetics, structure, biochemistry and function of these enzymes in the host-parasite relationship.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAdvances in Parasitology
EditorsD. Rollinson, J.R. Stothard
PublisherAcademic Press
Pages113-164
Number of pages52
ISBN (Print)9780128177167
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameAdvances in Parasitology
Volume104
ISSN (Print)0065-308X

Keywords

  • Cathepsin
  • Cysteine peptidase
  • Enzymes
  • Fasciola
  • Food-borne
  • Genomics
  • Helminths
  • Phylogenetics
  • Protein structure
  • Proteinase
  • Proteomics
  • Transcriptomics
  • Trematode
  • Trematodes

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