UGA researchers discover how trypanosome parasites communicate with each other

(University of Georgia) While scientists have known for years that African trypanosomes cause sleeping sickness, they've been left scratching their heads as to how these tiny single-celled organisms communicate. A University of Georgia study, published Jan. 14 in the journal Cell, helps solve this mystery.The UGA researchers discovered that long filaments--that look like beads on a string -- form by budding from the flagellum of African trypanosomes and then release pieces of the parasite into the host.
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news