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Identification of the First Direct Interaction between Trypanosomes and the Host Immune System

Explore the groundbreaking research on Trypanosoma brucei, the parasite causing African sleeping sickness, including its evasion tactics from the host immune system and the discovery of novel surface proteins that could lead to targeted treatments.

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Identification of the First Direct Interaction between Trypanosomes and the Host Immune System

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  1. Identification of the First Direct Interaction between Trypanosomes and the Host Immune System Olivia Macleod

  2. African sleeping sickness Endemic to sub-Saharan Africa Caused by the parasite Trypanosoma brucei Transmitted by the tsetse fly Lives in the bloodstream of humans and livestock Ineffective treatments Photos: Brun et al. (2010); Prof. Michael Duszenko, Universität Tübingen

  3. African sleeping sickness Endemic to sub-Saharan Africa Caused by the parasite Trypanosoma brucei Transmitted by the tsetse fly Lives in the bloodstream of humans and livestock Ineffective treatments Photos: Brun et al. (2010); Prof. Michael Duszenko, Universität Tübingen

  4. How does the parasite avoid detection in our bloodstream and destruction by our immune systems?

  5. Avoiding the immune system The parasites constantly change their surface coat Immune attack 1 Immune attack 2 Process continues for many years Grey destroyed Yellow survive and multiply Yellow destroyed Red survive and multiply

  6. How, then, can we target these parasites?

  7. Parasite surface: a weak spot Close-up of parasite surface Known surface proteins that take up essential nutrients from the bloodstream Unknown surface proteins

  8. Parasite surface: a weak spot Close-up of parasite surface Known surface proteins that take up essential nutrients from the bloodstream Unknown surface proteins

  9. Aim of PhD To determine the function of these surface proteins in order to obtain a complete understanding of the molecular interaction between the parasite and the host

  10. Identifying novel surface proteins Human and cattle bloodstream Tsetse fly Factor H

  11. Importance of discovery Factor H Factor H-binding protein is the first discovery of a direct interaction between the host immune system and this parasite Blocking the interaction between Factor H and the parasite may prevent its survival in the host Two additional surface proteins have been discovered that bind components in the bloodstream

  12. Commercial application Progress with company in Cambridge Producing monoclonal antibodies against two trypanosome surface proteins Could lead to a targeted treatment against African sleeping sickness

  13. Commercial application Progress with company in Cambridge Monoclonal antibody competes/interferes with Factor H binding Parasite death Factor H

  14. Acknowledgements PhD Funding Lab Funding Carrington Lab Members Magdalene College University of Cambridge Cambridge Society for the Application of Research

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