<P> The biochemistry and cell biology of Leishmania is similar to that of other kinetoplastids . They share the same main morphological features; a single flagellum which has an invagination, the flagellar pocket, at its base, a kinetoplast which is found in the single mitochondrion and a subpelicular array of microtubules which make up the main part of the cytoskeleton . </P> <P> Leishmania possesses a lipophosphoglycan coat over the outside of the cell . Lipophosphoglycan is a trigger for toll - like receptor 2, a signalling receptor involved in triggering an innate immune response in mammals . </P> <P> The precise structure of lipophosphoglycan varies depending on the species and lifecycle stage of the parasite . The glycan component is particularly variable and different lipophosphoglycan variants can be used as a molecular marker for different lifecycle stages . Lectins, a group of plant proteins which bind different glycans, are often used to detect these lipophosphoglycan variants . For example, peanut agglutinin binds a particular lipophosphoglycan found on the surface of the infective form of L. major . </P> <P> Lipophosphoglycan is used by the parasite to promote its survival in the host and the mechanisms by which the parasite does this center around modulating the immune response of the host . This is vital, as the Leishmania parasites live within macrophages and need to prevent the macrophages from killing them . Lipophosphoglycan has a role in resisting the complement system, inhibiting the oxidative burst response, inducing an inflammation response and preventing natural killer T cells recognising that the macrophage is infected with the Leishmania parasite . </P>

Name three characteristics that leishmania and plasmodium have in common