PracticalApplications

Summary

Trypanosomatids are among the most

versatile parasites in nature,

immediately increasing the species

that are susceptible to

trypanosome-caused diseases.

This class of parasites infects

mammals, fish, and plants; drugs for

treating diseases are few and toxic,

and resistance is on the rise.

Therefore, the discovery of plant-like

enzymes is good news

for drug target scientists.

Possible treatments include

compounds that inhibit plant-specific

metabolic pathways much

the way that herbicides do.

Practical Applications:

The Method Behind the Madness of Trypanosome Research

4
dfA hookworm is a terrifying reminder of the potential of parasites.

4
Trypanosomes are not as grizzly overall, but have comparably detrimental health effects.

Welcome to Trypansome Illness Research!
A. Parasitic Diseases
B. Diseases Specific to Trypanosomes

A. Parasitic Diseases
Parasites
dfsdjA parasite is an organism that survives by attacking and obtaining necessary nutrients from a host organism. Trypanosomatid parasites fall into the category of microparasites because they are much smaller than their hosts.
Parasite and Host Relationship
dfdsfThe parasite is dependent its the host for its existence. Therefore, the definition of the relationship technically includes the fact that the parasite does not make an adequate return for the resources it takes. In the most severe cases, the parasite demands such a vital or large percentage of the resources that the result is severe illness or death of a host.
1 ffffgf1 fgdg1
dfThorny-Headed Worm dfdfdfdfdfdfdfdDeer TickdfdfdffffffffdfddffffffffffffffffffCat Flea

B. Diseases Specific to Trypanosomes
The recent studies of trypanosome metabolism by Hanneart et al advance our knowledge of trypanosome biology and could even help efforts to treat trypanosomatid-caused disease. The team's research was centered around two species, Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi. These species are responsible for two life-threatening diseases listed below respectively. Read on to find out more about capablities of the trypanosome as a parasite.
African Sleeping Sickness
American Chagas' Disease

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d c. 2

he.f3

African Sleeping Sickness
Trypanosoma brucei is the species that causes human African trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness. The transmission vector is the tsetse fly, which infects humans or other wild animals which also have the potential to infect humans.

The Infection Process: Parasite Ownership to Host Decay
The Trypanosomes' method of infection varies from species to species. It is then important to understand the process in both species under scrutiny in this report, T. brucei and T. cruzi. Please read on to learn about the method of T. brucei.
FIGURES ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT CORRESPOND TO LETTERED STEPS BELOW.

a. Insect Vector Midgut:
DDFSD After a bloodmeal the bloodform trypanosomes, called trypomastigotes, transform and develop in the insect's midgut. After some time they move to the proventriculus, where they transform to epimastigotes and infect the salivary glands.

b. Insect Vector Salivary Glands:
DFG GFOnce in the salivary glands they transform tometacyclic trypomastigotes, which are infectious to the mammalian host.

c. Entrance to Mammalian Host:
GFGDF Once in the mammal they develop as long slender trypomastigotes, first in the area of the bite that becomes an ulcering cancer.

d. Mammalian Lymph Glands:
DFSDFCIn the lymph glands and the bloodstream, they divide every 5-7 hours. In general this phase of the disease leads to recurrent attacks of fever and to the wasting (loss of weight) of man and animal.

e. Brain and Nervous System:
FGFGF Trypanosomes cross the blood-brain barrier to invade the central nervous system. This leads to the typical symptoms of sleeping sickness, i.e. a disturbed day and night rhythm, change in personal character and coma. When not treated the course of the disease will be a fatal one resulting in death.

Prevelance of Sleeping Sickness in Africa Click here
See A Map of Africa Depicting the Severity of Infection by Region

a.6

fd.f2

FIND OUT MORE!

To learn more about Chagas' Disease and its symptoms,
click here.

To learn more about the
life cycle of the T. cruzi
pertinent to Chagas' Disease,
click here.

hja. 6

ghgc. 5

American Chagas' Disease
From the standpoint of human health, the most important species of trypanosomes
in the Americas is Trypanosoma cruzi which causes American trypanosomiasis or Chagas' Disease. Triatoma infestans or "kissing bugs" are transmission
vectors of Chagas' disease amongst humans.

The Infection Process: Parasite Ownership to Host Decay
As with T. brucei, to the stages of infection due to T. cruzi is important in gaining a full understanding of the severity of the disease and importance of trypanosome research.
AS BEFORE, FIGURES ON LEFT AND RIGHT CORRESPOND TO LETTERED STAGES.

a. Insect Vector Digestive System:
dfsdfdfTriotomine bugs feed on blood and ingest trypanosomes in the form of amistogotes (in the intercellular form) and trypomastigotes (in the blood-bound form).

b. Insect Vector Hindgut:
adfsdafIn the insect hindgut, the parasites reproduces asexually.

c. Entrance to Mammalian Host:
fsfdfdsfThe vector defecates on the host at the same time that it bites. The trypomastigotes formed during reproduction get "rubbed into" the bite or the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, or mouth.

d. Inside the Host:
dfdfdfd The parasites affect primarily the heart and nervous system. Chronic infections result in various neurological disorders, including dementia, megacolon, and mega-oesophagus, and damage to the heart muscle. Left untreated, the disease is often fatal.

dfdafdfd
f5
Triatoma infestans, or kissing bugs, are the transmission vectors of Chagas' Disease.

b. 6

dd. 6

				Summary Trypanosomatids are among the most versatile parasites in nature, immediately increasing the species that are susceptible to trypanosome-caused diseases. This class of parasites infects mammals, fish, and plants; drugs for treating diseases are few and toxic, and resistance is on the rise. Therefore, the discovery of plant-like enzymes is good news for drug target scientists. Possible treatments include compounds that inhibit plant-specific metabolic pathways much the way that herbicides do.
		Practical Applications: The Method Behind the Madness of Trypanosome Research
4 dfA hookworm is a terrifying reminder of the potential of parasites. 4 Trypanosomes are not as grizzly overall, but have comparably detrimental health effects.
		Welcome to Trypansome Illness Research! A. Parasitic Diseases B. Diseases Specific to Trypanosomes
		A. Parasitic Diseases Parasites dfsdjA parasite is an organism that survives by attacking and obtaining necessary nutrients from a host organism. Trypanosomatid parasites fall into the category of microparasites because they are much smaller than their hosts. Parasite and Host Relationship dfdsfThe parasite is dependent its the host for its existence. Therefore, the definition of the relationship technically includes the fact that the parasite does not make an adequate return for the resources it takes. In the most severe cases, the parasite demands such a vital or large percentage of the resources that the result is severe illness or death of a host. 1 ffffgf1 fgdg1 dfThorny-Headed Worm dfdfdfdfdfdfdfdDeer TickdfdfdffffffffdfddffffffffffffffffffCat Flea

B. Diseases Specific to Trypanosomes The recent studies of trypanosome metabolism by Hanneart et al advance our knowledge of trypanosome biology and could even help efforts to treat trypanosomatid-caused disease. The team's research was centered around two species, Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi. These species are responsible for two life-threatening diseases listed below respectively. Read on to find out more about capablities of the trypanosome as a parasite. African Sleeping Sickness American Chagas' Disease

df1 df d c. 2 he.f3			African Sleeping Sickness Trypanosoma brucei is the species that causes human African trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness. The transmission vector is the tsetse fly, which infects humans or other wild animals which also have the potential to infect humans. The Infection Process: Parasite Ownership to Host Decay The Trypanosomes' method of infection varies from species to species. It is then important to understand the process in both species under scrutiny in this report, T. brucei and T. cruzi. Please read on to learn about the method of T. brucei. FIGURES ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT CORRESPOND TO LETTERED STEPS BELOW. a. Insect Vector Midgut: DDFSD After a bloodmeal the bloodform trypanosomes, called trypomastigotes, transform and develop in the insect's midgut. After some time they move to the proventriculus, where they transform to epimastigotes and infect the salivary glands. b. Insect Vector Salivary Glands: DFG GFOnce in the salivary glands they transform tometacyclic trypomastigotes, which are infectious to the mammalian host. c. Entrance to Mammalian Host: GFGDF Once in the mammal they develop as long slender trypomastigotes, first in the area of the bite that becomes an ulcering cancer. d. Mammalian Lymph Glands: DFSDFCIn the lymph glands and the bloodstream, they divide every 5-7 hours. In general this phase of the disease leads to recurrent attacks of fever and to the wasting (loss of weight) of man and animal. e. Brain and Nervous System: FGFGF Trypanosomes cross the blood-brain barrier to invade the central nervous system. This leads to the typical symptoms of sleeping sickness, i.e. a disturbed day and night rhythm, change in personal character and coma. When not treated the course of the disease will be a fatal one resulting in death.		Prevelance of Sleeping Sickness in Africa Click here See A Map of Africa Depicting the Severity of Infection by Region a.6 fd.f2

FIND OUT MORE! To learn more about Chagas' Disease and its symptoms, click here. To learn more about the life cycle of the T. cruzi pertinent to Chagas' Disease, click here. hja. 6 ghgc. 5			American Chagas' Disease From the standpoint of human health, the most important species of trypanosomes in the Americas is Trypanosoma cruzi which causes American trypanosomiasis or Chagas' Disease. Triatoma infestans or "kissing bugs" are transmission vectors of Chagas' disease amongst humans. The Infection Process: Parasite Ownership to Host Decay As with T. brucei, to the stages of infection due to T. cruzi is important in gaining a full understanding of the severity of the disease and importance of trypanosome research. AS BEFORE, FIGURES ON LEFT AND RIGHT CORRESPOND TO LETTERED STAGES. a. Insect Vector Digestive System: dfsdfdfTriotomine bugs feed on blood and ingest trypanosomes in the form of amistogotes (in the intercellular form) and trypomastigotes (in the blood-bound form). b. Insect Vector Hindgut: adfsdafIn the insect hindgut, the parasites reproduces asexually. c. Entrance to Mammalian Host: fsfdfdsfThe vector defecates on the host at the same time that it bites. The trypomastigotes formed during reproduction get "rubbed into" the bite or the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, or mouth. d. Inside the Host: dfdfdfd The parasites affect primarily the heart and nervous system. Chronic infections result in various neurological disorders, including dementia, megacolon, and mega-oesophagus, and damage to the heart muscle. Left untreated, the disease is often fatal.		dfdafdfd f5 Triatoma infestans, or kissing bugs, are the transmission vectors of Chagas' Disease. b. 6 dd. 6

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