Surface antigen variability and variation in Giardia lamblia

Recent studies show that Giardia isolates are heterogeneous but fall into at least three groups as determined by a number of complementary techniques. Giardia undergoes surface antigenic variation, both in vitro, and in humans and other animal model infections. Many of the characteristics of antigenic variation and the proteins involved, called variant-specific surface proteins (VSPs), are unique. The sequences of five VSPs reveal a family of cysteine-rich proteins. Here Theodore Nash reviews the relationship between antigenic variation and Giardia heterogeneity.