African trypanosomes evade immune clearance by O-glycosylation of the VSG surface coat

Jason Pinger, Dragana Nešić, Liaqat Ali, Francisco Aresta-Branco, Mirjana Lilic, Shanin Chowdhury, Hee Sook Kim, Joseph Verdi, Jayne Raper, Michael A.J. Ferguson, F. Nina Papavasiliou, C. Erec Stebbins

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The African trypanosome Trypanosoma brucei spp. is a paradigm for antigenic variation, the orchestrated alteration of cell surface molecules to evade host immunity. The parasite elicits robust antibody-mediated immune responses to its variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) coat, but evades immune clearance by repeatedly accessing a large genetic VSG repertoire and ‘switching’ to antigenically distinct VSGs. This persistent immune evasion has been ascribed exclusively to amino-acid variance on the VSG surface presented by a conserved underlying protein architecture. We establish here that this model does not account for the scope of VSG structural and biochemical diversity. The 1.4-Å-resolution crystal structure of the variant VSG3 manifests divergence in the tertiary fold and oligomeric state. The structure also reveals an O-linked carbohydrate on the top surface of VSG3. Mass spectrometric analysis indicates that this O-glycosylation site is heterogeneously occupied in VSG3 by zero to three hexose residues and is also present in other VSGs. We demonstrate that this O-glycosylation increases parasite virulence by impairing the generation of protective immunity. These data alter the paradigm of antigenic variation by the African trypanosome, expanding VSG variability beyond amino-acid sequence to include surface post-translational modifications with immunomodulatory impact.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)932-938
Number of pages7
JournalNature Microbiology
Volume3
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2018

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
  • Genetics
  • Microbiology (medical)
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'African trypanosomes evade immune clearance by O-glycosylation of the VSG surface coat'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this