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Related Concept Videos

Viral Mutations00:36

Viral Mutations

A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material for adaptive...
Diversity of Antigen Receptors01:28

Diversity of Antigen Receptors

Antigen receptors are essential components of the immune system crucial in defending the body against foreign invaders. These receptors are present on the surface of B and T cells, enabling them to recognize antigens and mount an appropriate immune response.
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Among the three main modes of HGT—transformation, conjugation, and transduction—transduction is unique in that it is mediated by bacteriophages, or bacterial viruses.Transduction occurs in two ways. Generalized transduction occurs during the lytic cycle of a bacteriophage infection. In this process, bacteriophages infect bacterial cells, replicate within them, and ultimately cause cell lysis, releasing newly assembled virions. Occasionally, random fragments of the bacterial genome are...
Point and Frameshift Mutations01:30

Point and Frameshift Mutations

Point mutations are genetic alterations involving the change of a single nucleotide base pair in DNA. Depending on how the alteration affects protein synthesis, they can lead to various consequences.Point mutations fall into the following types:Silent mutations occur when a nucleotide change does not alter the amino acid sequence due to the redundancy of the genetic code. For instance, changing ACC to ACA still encodes threonine, leaving the protein function unaffected. This occurs because...
Viral Recombination00:57

Viral Recombination

Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 21, 2026

Detection of Trypanosoma brucei Variant Surface Glycoprotein Switching by Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting and Flow Cytometry
09:45

Detection of Trypanosoma brucei Variant Surface Glycoprotein Switching by Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting and Flow Cytometry

Published on: October 19, 2016

RNA decay sharpens antigenic variation in trypanosomes.

Markus Engstler1

  • 1Biocentre, University of Wuerzburg, Am Hubland, Wuerzburg 97074, Germany.

Trends in Parasitology
|May 19, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers discovered a new RNA nuclease in Trypanosoma brucei that controls gene expression. This finding reveals that spatial nuclear RNA decay refines antigenic variation, adding to monoallelic transcription.

Keywords:
RNA decayT. bruceiantigenic variationexpression-site bodyimmune evasionvariant surface glycoprotein

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Examination of the Telomere G-overhang Structure in Trypanosoma brucei
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Examination of the Telomere G-overhang Structure in Trypanosoma brucei

Published on: January 26, 2011

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Last Updated: May 21, 2026

Detection of Trypanosoma brucei Variant Surface Glycoprotein Switching by Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting and Flow Cytometry
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Published on: October 19, 2016

Tyramide Signal Amplification for the Immunofluorescent Staining of ZBP1-Dependent Phosphorylation of RIPK3 and MLKL After HSV-1 Infection in Human Cells
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Examination of the Telomere G-overhang Structure in Trypanosoma brucei
15:25

Examination of the Telomere G-overhang Structure in Trypanosoma brucei

Published on: January 26, 2011

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Parasitology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Trypanosoma brucei evades the host immune system through antigenic variation.
  • Antigenic variation relies on the precise control of gene expression, particularly the expression of variant surface glycoproteins (VSGs).
  • Monoallelic transcription is a known regulatory mechanism for VSG switching.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify novel mechanisms regulating gene expression and antigenic variation in Trypanosoma brucei.
  • To investigate the role of RNA decay in the spatial control of gene expression within the nucleus.

Main Methods:

  • Identification and characterization of a novel RNA nuclease.
  • Analysis of RNA decay pathways associated with expression sites.
  • Investigating the spatial organization of nuclear RNA decay.

Main Results:

  • An expression-site-body-associated RNA nuclease was identified.
  • This nuclease selectively attenuates expression-site-associated gene transcripts.
  • Evidence suggests spatially organized nuclear RNA decay contributes to regulating gene expression.

Conclusions:

  • Antigenic variation in Trypanosoma brucei is regulated by both monoallelic transcription and nuclear RNA decay.
  • The identified RNA nuclease plays a key role in spatially organized RNA decay.
  • This study reveals a new layer of post-transcriptional regulation in trypanosomes.