Review
Microbiology
Joana Faria, Emma M. Briggs, Jennifer A. Black, Richard McCulloch
Summary: The survival and transmission of the African trypanosome rely on antigenic variation, which involves stochastic changes in the composition of their protective VSG coat. This process can be executed through transcriptional or recombination reactions. Understanding the cellular machinery behind this process is crucial for potential interventions.
CURRENT OPINION IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
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
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Diego Forni, Rachele Cagliani, Chiara Pontremoli, Alessandra Mozzi, Uberto Pozzoli, Mario Clerici, Manuela Sironi
Summary: Analysis of closely related bat viruses to SARS-CoV-2 indicates the virus likely required limited adaptation to spread in humans, but has evolved to evade host humoral immune response while not actively avoiding T cell recognition. The variability of B cell epitopes in certain immunogenic proteins is significantly reduced in the SARS-CoV-2 population. Conservation of T cell epitopes in common cold coronaviruses suggests it may not directly correlate with disease severity.
Article
Biology
Xu Zhang, Francesca Florini, Joseph E. Visone, Irina Lionardi, Mackensie R. Gross, Valay Patel, Kirk W. Deitsch
Summary: Malaria parasites use transcriptional control and a gene network anchored by var2csa to coordinate switching of antigen exposure and maintain chronic infections, despite possessing a small repertoire of variant antigen-encoding genes.
Review
Parasitology
Joana R. C. Faria
Summary: African trypanosomes are early divergent protozoan parasites responsible for high mortality and morbidity as well as a great economic burden among the world's poorest populations. Understanding the mechanisms underpinning antigen as well as general gene expression control is crucial for designing effective control strategies against these organisms. Recent technological developments have advanced our understanding of nuclear organization and gene expression control in trypanosomes, opening novel research avenues.
Review
Cell Biology
Francesca Florini, Joseph E. Visone, Kirk W. Deitsch
Summary: Cellular decision-making at the level of gene expression is crucial for the development and evolution of organisms, leading to phenotypic diversity and adaptive subpopulations. Organisms and parasites have evolved different strategies to choose one gene from a large family for expression.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
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)
Review
Pathology
Etienne Pays, Magdalena Radwanska, Stefan Magez
Summary: African trypanosomes are parasitic protozoa that infect mammals and cause sleeping sickness. These parasites have evolved strategies to evade the immune system and prolong infection, resulting in inflammation, anemia, and brain dysfunction. Humans produce a protein called apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) that efficiently kills trypanosomes, but the parasites have developed resistance factors. However, APOL1 variants that counteract these resistance factors are associated with chronic kidney disease, particularly in the context of virus-induced inflammation such as coronavirus disease 2019. The potential for vaccination is discussed.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF PATHOLOGY-MECHANISMS OF DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ziding Yu, Hang Ren, Mengxu Sun, Wanying Xie, Songsong Sun, Ning Liang, Haijian Wang, Xiaoqiang Ying, Yuxi Sun, Yuling Wang, Yunping Zheng, Xueying Hu, Jingliang Su
Summary: Research revealed the occurrence of cluster 3 TMUV infection in laying chickens in southern China, with the isolation of a TMUV strain belonging to cluster 3 with closest relation to mosquito-origin TMUV YN12193. Experimental infection confirmed the ability of the virus to replicate in multiple tissues and cause ovary damage, and high seroconversion rates were detected in three flocks following retrospective investigation.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(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
Zhengwu Chang, Xiaoyu Dong, Zhao Guan, Kejia Lu, Xi Chen, Xi Wei, Hanwei Guo, Ruyi Dang, Juan Wang, Xinglong Wang, Sa Xiao, Zengqi Yang, Haijin Liu
Summary: Vaccines are widely used to prevent Newcastle disease virus. A study found that epitope mutations in the virus may decrease the effectiveness of the vaccine, but their contribution to antigenic mutation and immune escape is still controversial. The study also showed that a matched vaccine, generated through modification of the virus protein, was more effective in inhibiting viral shedding and tissue damage compared to an unmatched vaccine. However, both vaccines induced similar levels of neutralizing antibodies in vaccinated chickens.
VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Fei Wang, Jinsen Wu, Yajuan Wang, Zhimin Wan, Hongxia Shao, Kun Qian, Jianqiang Ye, Aijian Qin
Summary: This study identified key residues on the neuraminidase (NA) of H9N2 virus that are recognized by different monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), shedding light on the antigenic diversity and evolution of H9N2 viruses. These findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the antigenic structure of H9N2 viral NA.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
David R. Allred
Summary: Apicomplexan parasites have evolved mechanisms, such as co-opting DNA repair mechanisms, to enhance their survival in hostile environments. This article presents an alternative perspective on the purpose of variant proteins that mediate cytoadhesion, suggesting that it is related to the survival of the oxidative environment. The integration of DNA repair, antigenic variation, and cytoadhesion is influenced by genome organization and has implications for parasite control strategies.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Feng Han, Xing Zhang, Zixuan Guo, Jilei Wang, Xinxin Fu, Bo Gao
Summary: This paper analyzes the differences between single-loop VSG and multi-loop VSG in terms of broadband stability and current distortion suppression capabilities, providing reference for related applications.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bridget P. Bannerman, Susanne Kramer, Richard G. Dorrell, Mark Carrington
Article
Biology
Janaina de Freitas Nascimento, Steven Kelly, Jack Sunter, Mark Carrington
Article
Microbiology
Sebastian Zoll, Harriet Lane-Serff, Shahid Mehmood, Jonathan Schneider, Carol V. Robinson, Mark Carrington, Matthew K. Higgins
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2018)
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Mark Carrington, Matthew K. Higgins
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Danielle M. N. Moura, Osvaldo P. de Melo Neto, Mark Carrington
MOLECULAR AND BIOCHEMICAL PARASITOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Biology
ThankGod E. Ebenezer, Martin Zoltner, Alana Burrell, Anna Nenarokova, Anna M. G. Novak Vanclova, Binod Prasad, Petr Soukal, Carlos Santana-Molina, Ellis O'Neill, Nerissa N. Nankissoor, Nithya Vadakedath, Viktor Daiker, Samson Obado, Sara Silva-Pereira, Andrew P. Jackson, Damien P. Devos, Julius Lukes, Michael Lebert, Sue Vaughan, Vladimr Hampl, Mark Carrington, Michael L. Ginger, Joel B. Dacks, Steven Kelly, Mark C. Field
Article
Biology
Eva Doro, Sem H. Jacobs, Ffion R. Hammond, Henk Schipper, Remco P. M. Pieters, Mark Carrington, Geert F. Wiegertjes, Maria Forlenza
Article
Microbiology
Camilla E. Trevor, Andrea L. Gonzalez-Munoz, Olivia J. S. Macleod, Peter G. Woodcock, Steven Rust, Tristan J. Vaughan, Elspeth F. Garman, Ralph Minter, Mark Carrington, Matthew K. Higgins
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Isabella E. Maudlin, Steve Kelly, Angela Schwede, Mark Carrington
Summary: The bloodstream form of Trypanosoma brucei relies on antigenic variation of a cell surface coat composed of variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) for survival in mammalian hosts, with the integrity of the VSG coat being crucial for its persistence. Investigation into the regulation of VSG mRNA levels revealed that the copy number varies with the identity of the VSG and that a pathway detects synthesis of non-functional VSG protein, leading to an increase in VSG mRNA levels.
MOLECULAR AND BIOCHEMICAL PARASITOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Lori Peacock, Chris Kay, Chloe Farren, Mick Bailey, Mark Carrington, Wendy Gibson
Summary: The research reveals the existence of various cell types in meiotic stages among trypanosomes from tsetse salivary glands, suggesting the sequential production of haploid gametes through consecutive cell divisions.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Carlos Cordon-Obras, Claudia Gomez-Linan, Sara Torres-Rusillo, Isabel Vidal-Cobo, Diana Lopez-Farfan, Alicia Barroso-del Jesus, Domingo Rojas-Barros, Mark Carrington, Miguel Navarro
Summary: This study reveals the transcription initiation mechanism of genes in trypanosomes, identifying sequence-specific promoters that regulate the transcription of protein-coding genes, and demonstrates the conservation of this promoter-mediated regulation in eukaryotes.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Amanda T. S. Albanaz, Mark Carrington, Alexander O. Frolov, Anna I. Ganyukova, Evgeny S. Gerasimov, Alexei Y. Kostygov, Julius Lukes, Marina N. Malysheva, Jan Votypka, Alexandra Zakharova, Kristina Zahonova, Sara L. Zimmer, Vyacheslav Yurchenko, Anzhelika Butenko
Summary: This study conducted genome sequencing and analysis on previously overlooked trypanosomatid species, revealing their genomic diversity and chromosomal variations. The findings provide a solid foundation for future research on the genetic basis of life cycle changes and adaptation to different hosts in this species.
Article
Parasitology
Alexander D. Cook, Mark Carrington, Matthew K. Higgins
Summary: This article reviews decades of evidence on the effect of complement on African trypanosomes, focusing on the discovery of a trypanosome receptor for complement C3. It critically assesses three recent studies that attempt to provide a structural and mechanistic view of how this receptor helps trypanosomes survive in the presence of complement.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
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
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rupa Nagar, Isobel Hambleton, Michele Tinti, Mark Carrington, Michael A. J. Ferguson
Summary: In this study, the surface glycoconjugates of T. theileri were purified and partially characterized using biochemical and mass spectrometry-based approaches. It was found that the surface glycoconjugates consist of glycoproteins and glycolipids, including MSPs and TTPSPs. Furthermore, the glycolipids of T. theileri were shown to be larger and more diverse than those of its phylogenetic relative T. cruzi.
MOLECULAR AND BIOCHEMICAL PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
