Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Autophagy01:27

Autophagy

5.0K
Autophagy is a self-digesting process by which a cell protects itself from threats both within and outside the cell, ranging from abnormal proteins to invading bacteria. In this process, obsolete components of the cell and invading microbes are degraded by hydrolytic enzymes active in an acidic environment of the lysosomal lumen.
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
5.0K
Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome01:36

Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome

7.6K
Eukaryotic cells use different mechanisms to eliminate toxic waste obsolete and worn-out substances. Lysosomes play a pivotal role in this, and hence, these substances are carried to the lysosome from other parts of the cell and extracellular space through different pathways. The most elaborately studied pathways to the lysosome are the endocytic pathways.
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
7.6K
Diversity of Protists I01:15

Diversity of Protists I

2.3K
Excavata is a diverse group of protists that includes both chemoorganotrophic and phototrophic species, with some thriving in anaerobic environments. Among the key groups within Excavata are diplomonads and parabasalids, which are flagellated protists that lack mitochondria and chloroplasts. These microorganisms typically inhabit anoxic environments, such as the intestines of animals, where they exist either symbiotically or as parasites, relying on fermentation for energy production. Some...
2.3K
Autophagic Cell Death01:18

Autophagic Cell Death

3.3K
Christian de Duve discovered “autophagy,” a process in which cellular components are engulfed by membrane-bound organelles called autophagosomes. The autophagosomes then fuse with lysosomes to digest the enclosed contents. Autophagy is generally activated in cells to prevent cell death. However, cell death is triggered when the damage is beyond repair.
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and...
3.3K
Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells01:17

Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells

3.9K
Cells undergoing apoptosis form apoptotic bodies that must be removed immediately to prevent inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and necrosis. Phagocytosis is carried out by professional phagocytes such as macrophages or  immature dendritic cells. Non-professional phagocytes such as  epithelial cells and fibroblasts also take part in this process; however, they are not as effective as professional phagocytes. 
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized...
3.9K
Lysosomal Hydrolases01:22

Lysosomal Hydrolases

3.5K
Lysosomes are the site for the degradation of macromolecules and biological polymers released during membrane trafficking events such as secretory, endocytic, autophagic, and phagocytic pathways. The membrane-enclosed area of the lysosome, called the lumen, contains hydrolytic enzymes active in an acidic environment. These acid hydrolases are functional at a pH between 4.5 and 5 and are involved in cellular processes such as cell signaling, energy metabolism, restoration of the plasma membrane,...
3.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Characterization of GH18 chitinase in Leishmania braziliensis: expression, structural insights, and implications for vaccine and therapeutic development.

Biological research·2026
Same author

Why Euglenozoans.

Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2026
Same author

Dysregulated Expression of Canonical and Non-Canonical Glycolytic Enzyme Isoforms in Peripheral Blood from Subjects with Alcohol Use Disorder and from Individuals with Acute Alcohol Consumption.

Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)·2025
Same author

Metabolomics study of 3-O-p-(Z/E)-coumaroyltormentic acid-treated Trypanosoma brucei brucei.

International journal for parasitology. Drugs and drug resistance·2025
Same author

The glycosomal ATP-dependent phosphofructokinase of Trypanosoma brucei operates also in the gluconeogenic direction.

PLoS biology·2025
Same author

Allosteric inhibition of trypanosomatid pyruvate kinases by a camelid single-domain antibody.

eLife·2025
Same journal

RETRACTED: Bakshi et al. Crocin Inhibits Angiogenesis and Metastasis in Colon Cancer via TNF-α/NF-kB/VEGF Pathways. <i>Cells</i> 2022, <i>11</i>, 1502.

Cells·2026
Same journal

Correction: Verde et al. Molecular Mechanisms of Protein Aggregation in ALS-FTD: Focus on TDP-43 and Cellular Protective Responses. <i>Cells</i> 2025, <i>14</i>, 680.

Cells·2026
Same journal

Inflammation in Cardiomyopathies: Cellular Mechanisms Across Cardiac Phenotype.

Cells·2026
Same journal

IL-4/IL-13-Driven Dysregulation of Epidermal Lipid Metabolism in Atopic Dermatitis: An Immunometabolic Link Between Type 2 Inflammation and Barrier Dysfunction.

Cells·2026
Same journal

Activity of DNA- and RNA-Guided Prokaryotic Argonautes in Human Mitochondria.

Cells·2026
Same journal

Placental Pathophysiology in Maternal Psychoactive Substance Use: Biological, Clinical, and Forensic Perspectives.

Cells·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 1, 2026

Purification of Extracellular Trypanosomes, Including African, from Blood by Anion-Exchangers Diethylaminoethyl-cellulose Columns
14:26

Purification of Extracellular Trypanosomes, Including African, from Blood by Anion-Exchangers Diethylaminoethyl-cellulose Columns

Published on: April 6, 2019

9.3K

Autophagy in trypanosomatids.

Ana Brennand1, Eva Rico2, Paul A M Michels3

  • 1Research Unit for Tropical Diseases, de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate 74, postal box B1.74.01, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium. ana.paesbarreto@uclouvain.be.

Cells
|April 9, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Autophagy, a cellular recycling process, is crucial for the survival and virulence of tropical disease parasites like Trypanosoma and Leishmania. Targeting autophagy proteins (ATGs) offers a promising strategy for developing new anti-parasitic drugs.

More Related Videos

Using Fluorescent Proteins to Monitor Glycosome Dynamics in the African Trypanosome
10:04

Using Fluorescent Proteins to Monitor Glycosome Dynamics in the African Trypanosome

Published on: August 19, 2014

8.4K
Double Labeling Immunofluorescence using Antibodies from the Same Species to Study Host-Pathogen Interactions
07:35

Double Labeling Immunofluorescence using Antibodies from the Same Species to Study Host-Pathogen Interactions

Published on: July 10, 2021

6.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 1, 2026

Purification of Extracellular Trypanosomes, Including African, from Blood by Anion-Exchangers Diethylaminoethyl-cellulose Columns
14:26

Purification of Extracellular Trypanosomes, Including African, from Blood by Anion-Exchangers Diethylaminoethyl-cellulose Columns

Published on: April 6, 2019

9.3K
Using Fluorescent Proteins to Monitor Glycosome Dynamics in the African Trypanosome
10:04

Using Fluorescent Proteins to Monitor Glycosome Dynamics in the African Trypanosome

Published on: August 19, 2014

8.4K
Double Labeling Immunofluorescence using Antibodies from the Same Species to Study Host-Pathogen Interactions
07:35

Double Labeling Immunofluorescence using Antibodies from the Same Species to Study Host-Pathogen Interactions

Published on: July 10, 2021

6.8K

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Parasitology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Autophagy is a fundamental eukaryotic process conserved across species.
  • Trypanosomatids, including Trypanosoma and Leishmania, are protist parasites responsible for significant human tropical diseases.
  • Autophagy plays a critical role in the complex life cycles and adaptation of these parasites.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role and conservation of autophagy in trypanosomatid parasites.
  • To explore the potential of autophagy-related proteins (ATGs) as drug targets against human tropical diseases.
  • To understand how parasites utilize autophagy in response to therapeutic stress.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of autophagy-related (ATG) proteins in trypanosomatids versus other eukaryotes.
  • Examination of the impact of autophagy inhibition on parasite transformation, survival, and virulence.
  • Investigation of autophagy-inducing effects of known trypanocidal drugs.

Main Results:

  • Approximately half of known yeast and mammalian autophagy proteins are present in trypanosomatids, albeit with low sequence conservation.
  • Autophagy inhibition significantly impairs parasite transformation, survival, and virulence.
  • Trypanocidal drugs induce autophagy-like processes in parasites, suggesting a stress-coping mechanism.

Conclusions:

  • Autophagy is essential for the survival and virulence of trypanosomatid parasites.
  • Autophagy-related proteins (ATGs) represent viable targets for novel anti-parasitic drug development.
  • Parasites appear to employ autophagy to mitigate the effects of toxic compounds, including therapeutic drugs.