| 摘要 |
The present invention refers to a novel function of pyruvate ferredoxin-oxidoreductase (PFO) upon participating in the cytoadherence of the Trichomonas vaginalis parasite to the hosting cell, for which it was required to unveil the double localization of the PFP in hydrogenosome and the surface of the parasite, only finding enzymatic activity in the hydrogenosome. Immunofluorescence experiments were applied for proving the location of the PFOs expressed in the hydrogenosomes and the surface of the parasite and this was verified by essays of co-localization and electronic microscopy. The location of the PFO in the surface of the parasite was verified by marking with biotin the living parasites and by cell fractionation. The expression of all the genes of the PFO type found in the Trichomonas vaginalis genome (pfo a-f) was assessed during the experimental development by means of semiquantitative RT-PCR in parasites grown in different concentrations of iron. The invention describes the e xpression of the pfo a and pfo b genes, where pfo b was expressed constitutively in all the iron concentrations and the pfo a gene was only expressed in iron-rich concentrations. The invention allows molecules for inhibiting the bonding between the PFOs to be selected, especially of PFO A and the ligands thereof in target cells, opening the possibility of being used as vaccines for preventing the adhesion and therefore the colonization of parasites over the vaginal mucosa, thus providing the direct possibility of inhibiting or preventing the colonization of T. vaginalis in the vaginal mucosa, and the development of trichomoniasis in humans.
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