Complement evasion strategies of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites

Abstract

The human immune system consists of multiple subsystems and cascades to recognize and eliminate pathogenic intruders. The complement system is a vast and important component of this protective machinery. However, numerous of pathogens have developed ways to evade the complement system through a range of mechanisms, often by exploiting host regulators. Understanding these processes gives insight in the pathology of infectious and inflammatory diseases, eventually resulting in novel therapeutic treatments. This thesis gives an overview of the complement system and it’s host regulators. In addition the differences and similarities between evasion strategies and mechanisms of pathogens from different domains will be given.