Function and assembly of the Leishmania surface coat

Abstract Like many trypanosomatids, the cell surface coat of Leishmania spp. is responsible for mediating various host–parasite interactions as well as acting as a dense physical barrier. This confers protection to the parasites in the hostile environments of the sandfly midgut and the macrophage phagolysosome. The major components of the surface coat are tethered to the cell surface via glycosylphosphatidylinositol glycolipids, and the composition of this surface coat is exquisitely regulated during the course of the parasite life-cycle. In this paper, we review what is known about the composition, biosynthesis and function of these glycosylphosphatidylinositol-containing molecules found within the parasite surface coat.