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.
Review
Microbiology
Bibo Li, Yanxiang Zhao
Summary: Trypanosoma brucei regularly switches its major surface antigen to evade host immune response, with telomere and subtelomere structure integrity being crucial for its survival and pathogenesis. Telomere proteins TRF and RAP1, with unique nucleic acid binding activities, play key roles in VSG expression and switching. Targeting TbTRF and TbRAP1's nucleic acid binding activities may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy against T. brucei.
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)
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.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Albano H. H. Tenaglia, Lucas A. Lujan, Diego N. N. Rios, Cecilia R. R. Molina, Victor Midlej, Paula A. A. Iribarren, Maria A. Berazategui, Alessandro Torri, Alicia Saura, Damian O. Peralta, Macarena Rodriguez-Walker, Elmer A. A. Fernandez, Juan P. P. Petiti, Marianela C. C. Serradell, Pablo R. R. Gargantini, Tim Sparwasser, Vanina E. E. Alvarez, Wanderley de Souza, Hugo D. D. Lujan
Summary: The genomes of protozoa often contain families of variant surface antigens, and it is believed that antigenic variation in protozoan parasites occurs through the appearance of cells expressing antigenic variants. However, this study shows that antibodies to Variant-specific Surface Proteins (VSPs) of Giardia lamblia do not have cytotoxic effects, but instead induce clustering of VSPs and the release of microvesicles carrying the original VSPs. This mechanism not only challenges current understanding of antigenic switching, but also provides a new framework for understanding host-parasite interactions in protozoan infections.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Samya S. Alenezi, Naif D. Alenezi, Godwin U. Ebiloma, Manal J. Natto, Marzuq A. Ungogo, John O. Igoli, Valerie A. Ferro, Alexander I. Gray, James Fearnley, Harry P. de Koning, David G. Watson
Summary: Propolis is a resin gathered by bees from plant exudates, and its composition depends on the nearby plants. It acts as an anti-infective and has anti-protozoal properties. Red Nigerian propolis was found to be highly active against Trypanosoma brucei and T. congolense, and four isoflavonoids isolated from the propolis displayed high activity against the parasites.
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)
Article
Cell Biology
Hee-Sook Kim
Summary: In Trypanosoma brucei, genes are arranged in polycistronic transcription units, with transcription termination sites being crucial for controlling mRNA production. Three chromatin factors, H3v, H4v, and base J, contribute to the regulation of transcription termination sites in a coordinated manner, with H4v playing a major role in this process.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(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
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ann-Kathrin Mehnert, Marco Prorocic, Annick Dujeancourt-Henry, Sebastian Hutchinson, Richard McCulloch, Lucy Glover
Summary: In Trypanosoma brucei, RAD50 and MRE11 are essential for RAD51-dependent homologous recombination and phosphorylation of histone H2A following a DNA double strand break. RAD50 suppresses DSB repair using short stretches of homology at a subtelomeric locus, while MRE11 directs DSB resection at the same locus. Loss of either MRE11 or RAD50 leads to increased diversity of expressed VSG variants following DSB repair, suggesting that MRN promotes stringent homologous recombination at subtelomeric loci and restrains antigenic variation.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrew Cowton, Peter Butikofer, Robert Haner, Anant K. Menon
Summary: In this study, two subunits TbGPI14 and TbPBN1 of Trypanosoma brucei GPI-mannosyltransferase-I (GPI-MT-I) were identified as crucial for GPI synthesis and surface expression of GPI-anchored proteins, forming a higher-order complex through interaction. The heterodimeric architecture and species specificity within GPI-MT-I subunit associations were demonstrated with the failure of yeast Gpi14 to restore function in TbGPI14 knockout trypanosomes. The essential role of a trypanosome GPI-MT-I subcomponent indicates wide conservation of the unusual complex structure in glycosyltransferases.
MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Anna Barcons-Simon, Mark Carrington, T. Nicolai Siegel
Summary: Antigenic variation is a strategy used by pathogens to evade the host immune system. This Review discusses the impact of nuclear organization on antigenic variation in protozoan parasites, specifically Trypanosoma brucei and Plasmodium falciparum. It highlights the relevance of nuclear organization in both mutually exclusive antigen expression and genome stability, which are essential for antigenic variation.
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Larson Boundenga, Illich Manfred Mombo, Mouinga-Ondeme Augustin, Ngoubangoye Barthelemy, Patrice Makouloutou Nzassi, Nancy D. Moukodoum, Virginie Rougeron, Franck Prugnolle
Summary: Human African Trypanosomiasis is an infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites. Domestic animals may serve as reservoirs for trypanosomes, including the species responsible for the disease, T. brucei gambiense.
Article
Microbiology
Nicole Eisenhuth, Tim Vellmer, Elisa T. Rauh, Falk Butter, Christian J. Janzen
Summary: The parasite Trypanosoma brucei evades the host's immune system through antigenic variation, involving changes in protective protein expression. The histone methyltransferase DOT1B and RNase H2 complex are key players in this process.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eva Hegedusova, Veronika Marsalova, Sneha Kulkarni, Zdenek Paris
Summary: The role of nucleoporins in tRNA export in Trypanosoma brucei has been investigated. It was found that TbNup62 and TbNup53a are involved in tRNA export, while TbNup144 plays a critical role in nuclear division. These findings suggest that the location of nucleoporins within the nuclear pore complex is crucial for various cellular processes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Monica R. Mugnier, George A. M. Cross, F. Nina Papavasiliou
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Galadriel Hovel-Miner, Monica R. Mugnier, Benjamin Goldwater, George A. M. Cross, F. Nina Papavasiliou
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jessica R. Wright, T. Nicolai Siegel, George A. M. Cross
MOLECULAR AND BIOCHEMICAL PARASITOLOGY
(2010)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hee-Sook Kim, Zhen Li, Catharine Boothroyd, George A. M. Cross
MOLECULAR AND BIOCHEMICAL PARASITOLOGY
(2013)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
George A. M. Cross, Hee-Sook Kim, Bill Wickstead
MOLECULAR AND BIOCHEMICAL PARASITOLOGY
(2014)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Imaan Benmerzouga, Jeniffer Concepcion-Acevedo, Hee-Sook Kim, Anthula V. Vandoros, George A. M. Cross, Michele M. Klingbeil, Bibo Li
MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2013)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hee-Sook Kim, Sung Hee Park, Arthur Guenzl, George A. M. Cross
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anish Das, Rachel Morales, Mahrukh Banday, Stacey Garcia, Li Hao, George A. M. Cross, Antonio M. Estevez, Vivian Bellofatto
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nikolay G. Kolev, Kiantra Ramey-Butler, George A. M. Cross, Elisabetta Ullu, Christian Tschudi
Letter
Parasitology
George A. M. Cross
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2011)
Review
Parasitology
T. Nicolai Siegel, Kepila Gunasekera, George A. M. Cross, Torsten Ochsenreiter
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2011)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Paul B. Talbert, Kami Ahmad, Genevieve Almouzni, Juan Ausio, Frederic Berger, Prem L. Bhalla, William M. Bonner, W. Zacheus Cande, Brian P. Chadwick, Simon W. L. Chan, George A. M. Cross, Liwang Cui, Stefan I. Dimitrov, Detlef Doenecke, Jose M. Eirin-Lopez, Martin A. Gorovsky, Sandra B. Hake, Barbara A. Hamkalo, Sarah Holec, Steven E. Jacobsen, Kinga Kamieniarz, Saadi Khochbin, Andreas G. Ladurner, David Landsman, John A. Latham, Benjamin Loppin, Harmit S. Malik, William F. Marzluff, John R. Pehrson, Jan Postberg, Robert Schneider, Mohan B. Singh, M. Mitchell Smith, Eric Thompson, Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla, David John Tremethick, Bryan M. Turner, Jakob Harm Waterborg, Heike Wollmann, Ramesh Yelagandula, Bing Zhu, Steven Henikoff
EPIGENETICS & CHROMATIN
(2012)
Article
Microbiology
Galadriel A. Hovel-Miner, Catharine E. Boothroyd, Monica Mugnier, Oliver Dreesen, George A. M. Cross, F. Nina Papavasiliou
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Monica Mugnier, George A. M. Cross, F. Nina Papavasiliou