Cell signalling and ADP ribosylation factor 1 (Arf1) effector proteins of African trypanosomes

Abstract

The control of population size and differentiation status is essential for the survival of all organisms. Tight regulation of these processes is of particular importance for parasites. The African trypanosome, Trypanosoma brucei, represents a highly successful parasite capable of surviving and indeed thriving in the harsh environment in the bloodstream o f vertebrate hosts, and in the midgut and salivary glands of the tsetse fly vector. This project seeks to address issues in relation to control mechanisms of population size and differentiation status of mammalian-infective forms of the African trypanosome via the identification, characterisation and elucidation of components of the signalling process. This includes the identification of a putative receptor/ transporter for a density controlling and differentiation signalling factor.