New vaccines may come from forcing giardia parasite to display its many disguises
Thursday, April 29, 2010 - 15:41
in Biology & Nature
The intestinal parasite Giardia lamblia changes outfits nearly as often as a fashion model on a Parisian runway. With more than 200 protein coats in its molecular wardrobe, this troublesome creature -- the cause of innumerable cases of diarrheal infections each year -can change its appearance from one instant to the next, throwing the body's immune cells off track.