Project description:Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a protozoal disease transmitted by bites of tsetse flies. Infection with trypanosomes can lead directly to active HAT or latent infection with no detectable parasites, which may progress to active HAT or to spontaneous self-cure. Genetic variation could explain these differences in the outcome of infection. To test this hypothesis, 96 polymorphisms in 17 candidate genes were tested for association with phenotype in a case control design. The genes tested were: APOL1, CFH, HLA-A, HPR, HP, IL1B, IL12B, IL12RB1, IL10, IL4R, MIF ,TNFA, IL6, IL4, IL8, IFNG, and HLA-G.
Project description:We examine the function of the TbRAP1 Myb domain in gene expression regulation in Trypanosoma brucei that causes human African trypanosomiasis. TbRAP1 is required for normal VSG monoallelic expression, a key aspect of antigenic variation that is used by T. brucei to evade the host immune response.
Project description:We examine the function of the TbRAP1 DB domain in gene expression regulation in Trypanosoma brucei that causes human African trypanosomiasis. TbRAP1 is required for normal VSG monoallelic expression, a key aspect of antigenic variation that is used by T. brucei to evade the host immune response.
Project description:Purpose: The goal of the current study was to find the candidate genes responsible for the habita specific clock variation in N. discreta. Methods: We performed RNA-seq experiment using four strains ; African parent (FGSC8831), North American parent (FGSC 8578) and two representative progeny representing African clock phenotype (N309-89) and North American clock phenotype (N309-50). Results: We identified one candidate gene that meets our criteria; confirmed it's expression by qPCR and it's expression pattern is associated with parent genotype. Conclusions: Our approach using the expression profiles and SNP data of two parents and two representative progeny led us to identify a candidate gene for a complex clock adaptation phenotype.
Project description:African trypanosomiasis is still one of the infectious diseases threatening the health of human beings and animals, and severely impeding the continental economic development. Currently, the disease control programs are mainly relying on a limited number of parasiticides which are either expensive or with severe side-effect, and insecticides. In this study, we investigated the anti-trypanosome effect of two noble metal nanoclusters (NM-NCs), Ag2S-NC@MPA and AuNC@GSH. Both types of NCs can be efficiently up-taken by Trypanosoma brucei via a clathrin-dependent endocytosis pathway, and displayed dose-dependent anti-parasite effect by inducing apoptosis-associated organelle pathological alterations. The data not only revealed the clathrin-dependent endocytosis pathway in African trypanosome, but also proposed a new avenue for NM-NC-based drug development for trypanosomiasis.
