Lipophosphoglycan
Lipophosphoglycan is a class of molecules found on the surface of some eukaryotes, in particular protozoa. A lipophosphoglycan is made up of two parts; a lipid part and a polysaccharide part. The two are linked by a phosphodiester bond, hence the name lipo-phospho-glycan.
A notable group of organisms which have an extensive lipophosphoglycan coat are the Leishmania species, a group of single-celled protozoan parasite which cause Leishmaniasis in many mammals, including humans. The lipophosphoglycan coat in these organisms has an important role in modulating the host's immune system response to the parasite.
