Article
Biology
Amanda M. Travis, Samiya Manocha, Jason R. Willer, Timothy S. Wessler, Nikolai P. Skiba, Jillian N. Pearring
Summary: The small GTPase Arl3 plays an important role in enriching lipidated proteins in primary cilia, including the outer segment of photoreceptors. Mutations in Arl3 cause both autosomal recessive and dominant inherited retinal dystrophies. Dominant mutations result in increased activity of G-protein-Arl3-D67V and fast cycling of Arl3-Y90C, leading to a displaced nuclear phenotype in mouse rods. By manipulating the Arl3-GTP gradient, we show that it is involved in proper positioning of photoreceptor nuclei during retinal development.
Article
Immunology
Sabine Bachmaier, Matthew K. Gould, Eleni Polatoglou, Radoslaw Omelianczyk, Ana E. Brennand, Maha A. Aloraini, Jane C. Munday, David Horn, Michael Boshart, Harry P. de Koning
Summary: The study investigates the cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling in trypanosomes and reveals the difference in cAMP pathways compared to other eukaryotes. Through genome-wide RNAi screening, four genes named cAMP Response Protein (CARP) 1-4 were identified as related to resistance to the cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor NPD-001. Additionally, six CARP candidate genes were discovered through deep sequencing, and their resistance phenotypes were confirmed. The study highlights the significance of cAMP in flagellar function and provides a resource for exploring unusual cAMP pathways and flagellar biology.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Sayaka Fujisawa, Hantian Qiu, Shohei Nozaki, Shuhei Chiba, Yohei Katoh, Kazuhisa Nakayama
Summary: INPP5E is localized on the ciliary membrane via its prenyl moiety, with the ARL3 and ARL13B GTPases contributing to maintaining this localization through different mechanisms, with ARL13B mainly determining the ciliary localization of INPP5E through direct binding to it.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Heba A. S. El-Nashar, Ahmed M. Sayed, Hany A. M. El-Sherief, Mostafa E. Rateb, Lina Akil, Ibrahim Khadra, Taghreed A. Majrashi, Sara T. Al-Rashood, Faizah A. Binjubair, Mahmoud A. El Hassab, Wagdy M. Eldehna, Usama Ramadan Abdelmohsen, Nada M. Mostafa
Summary: This study investigated the metabolic profile and anti-trypanosomal effect of the methanol extract of Thunbergia grandifolia leaves. Fifteen compounds of different classes were identified using LC-HRESIMS. The extract showed a strong inhibitory activity against T. brucei TC 221 and two compounds were identified as potential targets. Both compounds showed acceptable drug-like properties.
JOURNAL OF ENZYME INHIBITION AND MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Roberto Docampo, Anibal Eugenio Vercesi
Summary: This review discusses the mechanisms of mitochondrial oxidant generation and removal, and the involvement of Ca2+ in trypanosome cell death, highlighting the need for further studies on ROS generation, defense mechanisms, and mitochondrial permeability transition pore in trypanosomatids.
ANTIOXIDANTS & REDOX SIGNALING
(2022)
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Aline Araujo Alves, Philippe Bastin
Summary: The protist Trypanosoma cruzi has a long and motile flagellum and a tiny flagellum in its intracellular stage. Recent research shows that the tiny flagellum can beat, and this commentary explores how it is constructed and its impact on the parasite's survival inside the host.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Justin Y. Toh, Agathe Nkouawa, Saul Rojas Sanchez, Huafang Shi, Nikolay G. Kolev, Christian Tschudi
Summary: By targeting 86 transcripts through RNAi, 22 genes that positively or negatively regulate the progression towards infectivity in Trypanosoma brucei have been identified, including the previously unknown nucleic acid binding proteins CSD1 and CSD2. The study suggests a considerable overlap between the genes that regulate stumpy bloodstream form Trypanosoma and those that govern the development of metacyclic form parasites.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Nava Raj Poudyal, Kimberly S. Paul
Summary: This review discusses the availability and uptake mechanisms of fatty acids in Trypanosoma brucei. Fatty acids can be synthesized by the parasite or acquired from the host's surroundings. Fatty acids are crucial for the growth and survival of the parasite and are implicated in the survival of specific proteins. The relative contribution of parasite-derived and host-derived fatty acids to T. brucei biology and the molecular mechanisms of fatty acid uptake are still poorly understood.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Manon Geerts, Nick Van Reet, Sander Leyten, Raf Berghmans, Kat S. Rock, Theresa H. T. Coetzer, Lauren E-A Eyssen, Philippe Buscher
Summary: The newly developed T. b. gambiense inhibition ELISA (g-iELISA) based on the principle of antibody binding showed high specificity and sensitivity, making it suitable for regional laboratories in gHAT endemic countries for monitoring and surveillance.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Miharisoa Rijatiana Ramanantsalama, Nicolas Landrein, Elina Casas, Benedicte Salin, Corinne Blancard, Melanie Bonhivers, Derrick R. Robinson, Denis Dacheux
Summary: A newly identified kinetoplastid-specific TF protein, TFK1, is found to play a key role in basal body maturation and cytokinesis in bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Cristhian David Perdomo-Gomez, Nancy Ruiz-Uribe, John Mario Gonzalez, Manu Forero-Shelton
Summary: Trypanosoma cruzi, the cause of Chagas disease, can attach and adhere to the host's cells using nanotubules to enhance adherence under shear stress generated by fluid flow.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
William J. Robinson, Annie E. Taylor, Solange Lauga-Cami, George W. Weaver, Randolph Rj Arroo, Marcel Kaiser, Sheraz Gul, Maria Kuzikov, Bernhard Ellinger, Kuldip Singh, Tanja Schirmeister, Adolfo Botana, Chatchakorn Eurtivong, Avninder S. Bhambra
Summary: Human African trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness, is a neglected tropical disease caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, with current therapy limitations and the need for further investigation. Novel anti-trypanosomal compounds show promising potential, providing scaffolds for future drug development targeting the disease.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Joseph T. Smith Jr, Brianna Tylec, Arunasalam Naguleswaran, Isabel Roditi, Laurie K. Read
Summary: This study reveals the importance of mitochondrial mRNA editing in the developmental regulation of Trypanosoma brucei. The researchers found that temperature reduction and depletion of the differentiation-repressive kinase RDK1 can affect the metabolism of Trypanosoma brucei by altering the editing of mitochondrial cytochrome mRNAs.
Review
Cell Biology
Bibo Li
Summary: Telomeres and subtelomeres play crucial roles in maintaining chromosome stability and adapting to environmental changes, particularly in the case of the Trypanosoma brucei parasite. The similarities and differences in telomere factors between T. brucei, human, and yeast cells are important for understanding genome stability mechanisms.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Emilia Jane McLaughlin, Karinna Rubio-Pena, Annick Dujeancourt-Henry, Lucy Glover
Summary: This study aimed to disrupt monoallelic VSG expression and found that the DNA sequence of the ectopic VSG is lost in a transcription-dependent manner following DSB-triggered VSG switching. The loss of the ectopic VSG does not disrupt the number or variety of templates used for BES DSB repair, revealing strict mechanisms within the cell to reinforce monoallelic expression during antigenic variation.