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Author Spotlight: Advancing Therapeutics to Treat Vibriosis in Humans and Aquatic Organisms
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Trypanosome Signaling-Quorum Sensing.

Keith R Matthews1

  • 1Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, Ashworth Laboratories, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, United Kingdom;

Annual Review of Microbiology
|August 4, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

African trypanosomes cause diseases in humans and animals. Their development is regulated by density-dependent quorum sensing (QS), a mechanism crucial for infection dynamics and therapeutic targeting.

Keywords:
Trypanosoma bruceicoinfectiondifferentiationquorum sensingtransmissiontrypanosomiasis

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Area of Science:

  • Parasitology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Disease Ecology

Background:

  • African trypanosomes cause significant human and animal diseases in sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Trypanosoma brucei differentiates between slender and stumpy forms in mammalian hosts, with stumpy forms adapted for tsetse fly transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the historical context and biological features of trypanosome quorum sensing (QS).
  • To explore how QS influences parasite infection dynamics and transmission.
  • To discuss QS loss and modulation in different trypanosome species and contexts.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of trypanosome biology and quorum sensing.
  • Analysis of parasite development, host-parasite interactions, and inter-species competition.
  • Exploration of therapeutic strategies targeting QS.

Main Results:

  • Quorum sensing (QS) is a density-dependent mechanism driving the development of transmissible stumpy forms in Trypanosoma brucei.
  • QS can be lost or modulated in various trypanosome species and during mixed infections.
  • Understanding QS provides insights into parasite infection dynamics and potential therapeutic interventions.

Conclusions:

  • Quorum sensing is a critical regulator of African trypanosome development and infection.
  • The loss or modulation of QS impacts parasite infectivity and host adaptation.
  • Targeting trypanosome QS presents a promising avenue for novel therapeutic strategies against these diseases.