| Abstract: | Trichomonas vaginalis is a flagellate protozoan that parasitises theurogenital human tract and causes trichomoniasis. During the infection, theacquisition of nutrients, such as iron and purine and pyrimidine nucleosides, isessential for the survival of the parasite. The enzymes for purinergic signalling,including adenosine deaminase (ADA), which degrades adenosine to inosine, have beencharacterised in T. vaginalis. In the evaluation of the ADA profilein different T. vaginalis isolates treated with different ironsources or with limited iron availability, a decrease in activity and an increase inADA gene expression after iron limitation by 2,2-bipyridyl and ferrozine chelatorswere observed. This supported the hypothesis that iron can modulate the activity ofthe enzymes involved in purinergic signalling. Under bovine serum limitationconditions, no significant differences were observed. The results obtained in thisstudy allow for the assessment of important aspects of ADA and contribute to a betterunderstanding of the purinergic system in T. vaginalis and the roleof iron in establishing infection and parasite survival. |
