Trypanosoma brucei genomics and the challenge of identifying drug and vaccine targets

• Published in: Trends in microbiology (Regular ed.) Vol. 11; no. 7; pp. 322 - 329
• Main Authors: Agbo, Eddy C., Majiwa, Phelix A.O., Büscher, Philippe, Claassen, Eric, te Pas, Marinus F.W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-07-2003
• Subjects: african trypanosomes; Animals; Drug Design; expressed sequence tags; gene-expression; Genome, Protozoan; haptoglobin-related protein; human-serum; kinetoplast dna network; plasmodium-falciparum; rna interference; sleeping-sickness; surface-proteins; Trypanosoma brucei brucei - genetics; Trypanosoma brucei brucei - immunology; Trypanosomiasis - blood; Trypanosomiasis - drug therapy; Trypanosomiasis - immunology; Trypanosomiasis - prevention & control; Vaccines
• ISSN: 0966-842X; 1878-4380
• DOI: 10.1016/S0966-842X(03)00151-3

There have been tremendous advances in our knowledge of trypanosome biology, yet many aspects remain unclear. Currently, the genome of
Trypanosome brucei is being sequenced and this, with other genome-wide analysis methods, could provide novel insights into the parasite and facilitate the development of effective controls. An important new challenge investigators face is how to exploit the information in studying a parasite with so many genetic peculiarities. Here, we summarize our current understanding of molecular genetics of
T. brucei and attempt to link genome analysis to the prospects for identifying possible targets for vaccines, novel drugs and specific diagnostics. The value of newly developed genotyping approaches in accelerating these processes is discussed.