Host response to infection
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Mechanisms to control parasitic protozoa are similar to those utilized for other infectious agents; they can be divided into non-specific mechanism(s) and specific mechanism(s) involving the immune system.
HOST RESPONSE TO INFECTION
Mechanisms to control
parasitic protozoa are similar to those utilized for other infectious agents;
they can be divided into non-specific mechanism(s) and specific mechanism(s)
involving the immune system. The best studied nonspecific mechanisms include
those that affect the entry of parasites into the red blood cell. The sickle
cell haemoglobin trait and lack of the Duffy factor on the erythrocyte surface
make the red cell more resistant to invasion by Plasmodium . These traits are commonly found in populations from
malaria-endemic regions. A second example of a nonspecific factor is the
presence of trypanolytic factors in the serum of humans which confer resistance
to T. brucei, although nonspecific
factors can play a key role in resistance, usually they work in conjunction
with the host’s immune system.
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