Schistosome immune evasion

Herve, M., et al. (2003). Pivotal roles of the parasite PGD2 synthase and of the host D prostanoid receptor 1 in schistosome immune evasion. Eur. J. Immunol 33, 2764-72. 

Herve, M., Angeli, V., Pinzar, E., Wintjens, R., Faveeuw, C., Narumiya, S., Capron, A., Urade, Y., Capron, M., Riveau, G. andTrottein, F. (2003) Pivotal roles of the parasite PGD2 synthase and of the host D prostanoid receptor 1 in schistosome immune evasion. European Journal of Immunology 33, 2764-2772. 

Biological functions of the structure. The trematode tegument is structurally adapted for transport, immune evasion and communication with the neuromuscular system (via gap junctions). Numerous pits at the surface of the tegument markedly increase the surface area of the parasite, which is consistent with a transport function (see below). The fact that all of the pits in schistosomes examined in situ contain erythrocytes (55) suggests that these structures are open to the external environment. The tegument is less pitted in F. hepatica, but numerous invaginations of the surface effectively increase the surface area. 

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