How transport directionality is achieved through the trypanosome nuclear pore complex is unclear, as the current structural model is mostly symmetrical. Using a combination of expansion microscopy and proximity labeling, this study reveals that the trypanosome nuclear pore has an asymmetrical architecture, with conserved hubs that direct mRNA transport.
Scientists discover novel way to attack the #trypanosome #parasite through its #ribosome.
https://phys.org/news/2023-12-scientists-trypanosome-parasite-ribosome.html
Trypanosome is a single-celled parasite that takes an extensive human and economic toll due to its involvement in causing sleeping sickness in humans and a similar disease in cattle. The parasite, found mainly in rural areas of Africa, is transmitted to humans or cattle by the tsetse fly. There is no vaccine for the disease, and current treatments are difficult and ineffective due to the resistance of the parasites to existing drugs.
This study shows that chronic brain infection with African trypanosomes induces broad meningeal responses resulting in the development of ectopic lymphoid aggregates containing autoreactive B cells; myelin basic protein is one of the autoantigens detected by autoreactive B cells, consistent with the cortical demyelination observed in experimental infections.
New leads in the quest for better anti-trypanosome drugs
"We performed phenotypic screening against trypanosomes and identified a class of cyanotriazoles (CTs) with potent trypanocidal activity both in vitro and in mouse models of Chagas disease and HAT."
#InfectiousDisease #Chagas #drugdiscovery #trypanosome
PLOS Biology
CellBioNews
Thiago Carvalho
Caroline_Keroack