Trichinella spiralis: Subversion of differentiated mammalian skeletal muscle cells

Infection by Trichinella spiralis initiates changes in terminally differentiated mammalian skeletal muscle cells that lead to host cell cycle re-entry, cell cycle arrest in apparent G2/M phase, the repression of differentiated skeletal muscle characteristics and the expression of a phenotype unlike other stages in the muscle lineage. Although the parasite must be involved in initiating these changes, its precise role is unclear. Based on regulatory mechanisms which control myogenesis Douglas Jasmer proposes that host cell regulatory products, expressed as a consequence of cell cycle repositioning may determine aspects of the infected host cell phenotype. Distinguishing between host- and parasite-regulated changes should aid in identifying pertinent parasite molecules and uncovering the significance of host cell changes to parasite growth, developments and survival.