The second messenger cyclic 3′, 5′ -adenosine monophosphate in pathogenic microorganisms with special reference to protozoa

Abstract

There is a growing body of information on signal transduction components in microorganisms. Elements of the cyclic 3′, 5′-adenosine monophosphate signaling system and molecules similar to hormones and receptors have been identified in the majority of prokaryotes and unicellular eukaryotes that have been studied. The presence of ligand- and receptor-like molecules in parasitic microorganisms raises the possibility that these molecules may interact with host communication systems. Adrenergic control of proliferation, differentiation, and infectivity has been described in the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas' disease. Interactions between host and parasitic systems could also be antibody mediated, with antigenic cross-reactivity between components of their cAMP-dependent systems. In this review, we discuss these possibilities and summarize the existing data in this area.Key words: cAMP, pathogenic microorganisms, Trypanosoma cruzi, signaling systems.