Scientists discover how African sleeping sickness parasite hides from the immune system
Scientists discover how African sleeping sickness parasite hides from the immune system
Researchers have made a major breakthrough regarding the Trypanosoma brucei, the pathogen behind African sleeping sickness.
For decades, scientists wondered how the parasite produces a massive protective coat of Variant Surface Glycoprotein (VSG)[noun|protein] while keeping essential helper proteins at low levels.
A study published in Nature Microbiology identifies a protein called ESB2 that acts as a molecular shredder.
Located inside the parasite, ESB2 performs real-time genetic editing by destroying helper gene transcripts while keeping the VSG instructions intact.
African sleeping sickness, transmitted by the tsetse fly, is a dangerous tropical disease that can invade the central nervous system.
By mastering antigenic variation, the parasite constantly switches its surface coat to evade the host's immune system.
Uncovering this biological vulnerability offers a promising new direction for developing treatments against this severe illness, which remains a significant threat to health in sub-Saharan Africa.
