Innate Immune Activation and Subversion of Mammalian Functions by Leishmania Lipophosphoglycan

Figure 2

Role of LPG in Leishmania infectivity and virulence. Shown are putative and bona fide actions of Leishmania spp. LPG molecules in subversion of host and vector functions. These LPG functions include (1) physical protection to promastigotes against hydrolytic enzymes in the digestive tract of insect; (2) attachment of promastigotes to the gut wall; (3) In the mammalian host, promastigotes protection against lysis by complement proteins; (4) attachment of parasites to the macrophage membranes or alternative transiently infected cells, such as neutrophils, dendritic cells and perhaps others; (5) transient impairment of the phagosome maturation; (6) physical protection against degradation by lysosomal enzymes; (7) modulation of macrophages activation through impairing the synthesis of nitrogen species and cytokines related to the control of infection and protection from ROS.