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HOST LIPID HIJACKING. "While eukaryotic pathogens are often able to synthesize a number of nutrients required for growth de novo, it is often more advantageous to conserve the energy required for biosynthesis and to instead hijack host-derived resources. This is especially true for the acquisition of host lipids, as protozoan parasites must quickly assemble a large amount of new membrane during replication within host cells." https://lnkd.in/erQdieM View in LinkedIn

STAGE SPECIFICITY. "The complex nature of each parasite's life cycle often requires multiple in vitro culture systems in order to study all of the developmental stages. While some parasite stages are easily propagated in culture, others are not." https://lnkd.in/erQdieM View in LinkedIn

MORPHING PARASITES. "Because many parasites have different body forms during their life cycle, parasites display periodic stage-dependent gene expression." https://lnkd.in/erQdieM View in LinkedIn

HIDE-AND-SEEK. "Parasites have evolved elegant strategies to survive and replicate within their hosts. One strategy includes constantly changing their cellular state in order to progress through their life cycle, while simultaneously evading recognition by the host immune system. The vast number of developmental stages, combined with distinct tissue tropisms, increases the complexity of host–parasite interactions." https://lnkd.in/erQdieM View in LinkedIn

"METABOLIC MANIPULATION of host cells by intracellular pathogens is currently recognized to play an important role in the pathology of infection." https://lnkd.in/egTnZjj View in LinkedIn

FRAGMENT FROM NATURE continues this weekend with how more complex parasites can hijack the host cell machinery in order to replicate. These parasites hack their way into the host biochemistry by using highly sophisticated, and evolving strategies. Multicellular parasites often also adopt complex life cycles with various body formats in order to avoid host defenses. This transformation itself is not trivial. View in LinkedIn

Karen Reith View in LinkedIn

HUMAN ENDOGENOUS RETROVIRUSES. "Two ERV genes, termed Syncytin-1 and Syncytin-2, which encode former envelope (Env) proteins, trigger fusion events between villous cytotrophoblasts and the peripheral multinucleated syncytiotrophoblast layer." https://lnkd.in/eNxap6v View in LinkedIn

BREACHING THE WALL. "The modulation of apoptosis by protozoan parasites is an important component of their pathogenic profile. Pathogen decisions on how to manipulate apoptosis represents a continuum from its complete inhibition to its promotion." http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2958.2007.05714.x/full View in LinkedIn

SYNCYTINS. "Retroviruses appear to have a particular ‘affinity’ for placentas. Retroviral particles and mRNAs are often observed in placentas and several genes use retroviral promoters to produce placenta-specific transcripts. Domesticated retroviral envelope proteins (‘syncytins’) promote the fusion of mononucleate trophoblast cells to form a syncytial layer at the maternal–fetal interface of primates and rodents." https://lnkd.in/edp9HQZ View in LinkedIn