Leishmania lipophosphoglycan components: A potent target for synthetic neoglycoproteins as a vaccine candidate for leishmaniasis. (1st June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mohammed, Aiman Saleh A.; Tian, Weilu; Zhang, Youqin; Peng, Peng; Wang, Fengshan; Li, Tianlu
• Is Part Of: Carbohydrate polymers. Volume 237(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-06-01
• Subjects: Carbohydrates -- Synthetic neoglycoproteins -- Leishmania -- Lipophosphoglycan -- Vaccine -- Tetrasaccharide cap; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 547.78
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116120
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-8617

Abstract

Highlights: Leishmaniasis is a fatal disease, which is second only to malaria in parasitic causes of death. To date, there is no vaccine available for humans against leishmaniasis. Lipophosphoglycan is crucial for the infectivity and survival of the parasites. The tetrasaccharide cap is considered a potent target for the development of new vaccines. Joining synthetic caps to immunostimulatory agents showed promising initial results. Abstract: Leishmania is an obligate intracellular pathogen that invades phagocytic host cells. Due to its high morbidity and mortality rates, leishmaniasis attracts significant attention. The disease, which is caused by Leishmania parasites, is distributed worldwide, particularly among developing communities, and causes fatal complications if not treated expediently. Unfortunately, the existing treatments are not preventive and do not impede Leishmania infection. Many drugs available for leishmaniasis are becoming less effective due to emerging resistance in some Leishmania species. Other drugs have drawbacks such as low cost-effectiveness, toxicity, and side effects. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers leishmaniasis to be a major public health problem and suggests that the best prevention is to develop a vaccine for this dangerous disease. In this review, we focus on the unique components of lipophosphoglycan (LPG), a component of the Leishmania cell wall, particularly [Gal p (1 → 4)-β-[Man p -(1 → 2)- α -Man p -(1 → 2)- α ]-Man p ] in the cryptic tetrasaccharide cap, and on synthetic approaches as a potent candidate for a leishmaniasis vaccine.