Edinburgh Research Archive logo

Edinburgh Research Archive

University of Edinburgh homecrest
View Item 
  •   ERA Home
  • Biological Sciences, School of
  • Biological Sciences publications
  • View Item
  •   ERA Home
  • Biological Sciences, School of
  • Biological Sciences publications
  • View Item
  • Login
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

Parasite-intrinsic factors can explain ordered progression of trypanosome antigenic variation

View/Open
Lythgoe et al.pdf (122.9Kb)
Lythgoe Fig 1 [Converted].tif (1.035Mb)
Lythgoe Fig 2 [Converted].tif (854.6Kb)
Lythgoe Fig 3 [Converted].tif (3.202Mb)
Lythgoe Fig 4 [Converted].tif (1.948Mb)
Lythgoe Fig 5 [Converted].tif (1.922Mb)
Date
2007
Author
Lythgoe, Katrina A
Morrison, Liam J
Read, Andrew F
Barry, J David
Metadata
Show full item record
Abstract
Pathogens often persist during infection because of antigenic variation, in which they evade immunity by switching between distinct surface antigen variants. A central question is how ordered appearance of variants, an important determinant of chronicity, is achieved. Theories suggest it results directly, from a complex pattern of transition connectivity between variants, or indirectly, from effects such as immune cross-reactivity or differential variant growth rates. Using a mathematical model based only on known infection variables, we show that order in trypanosome infections can be explained more parsimoniously, by a simpler combination of two key, parasite-intrinsic factors: differential activation rates of parasite variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) genes, and density-dependent parasite differentiation. The model outcomes concur with empirical evidence that several variants are expressed simultaneously and that parasitaemia peaks correlate with VSG genes within distinct activation probability groups. Our findings provide a possible explanation for the enormity of the recently sequenced VSG silent archive and have important implications for field transmission.
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/1842/2091
Collections
  • Biological Sciences publications

Library & University Collections HomeUniversity of Edinburgh Information Services Home
Privacy & Cookies | Takedown Policy | Accessibility | Contact
Privacy & Cookies
Takedown Policy
Accessibility
Contact
feed RSS Feeds

RSS Feed not available for this page

 

 

All of ERACommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsPublication TypeSponsorSupervisorsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsPublication TypeSponsorSupervisors
LoginRegister

Library & University Collections HomeUniversity of Edinburgh Information Services Home
Privacy & Cookies | Takedown Policy | Accessibility | Contact
Privacy & Cookies
Takedown Policy
Accessibility
Contact
feed RSS Feeds

RSS Feed not available for this page