Discovery of enzyme in the sleeping sickness parasite streamlines drug development
(Umea University) Researchers from Umeå University in Sweden have discovered that the single-celled parasite causing African sleeping sickness has a defense mechanism against potential pharmaceuticals under development against the disease. The deadly parasite has an enzyme that can cleave and hence disarm adenosine analogue pharmaceuticals. This according to a study recently published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - April 18, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
Nitric oxide protects against parasite invasion and brain inflammation by keeping the blood brain barrier intact
(PLOS) African trypanosomiasis is called 'sleeping sickness' because when the infection is untreated, trypanosome parasites will invade the brain and cause disruption of sleeping patterns and irreversible neurological damage. A study published on Feb. 25 in PLOS Pathogens reports that in a mouse model of trypanosome disease, nitric oxide plays an unexpected role in preserving the integrity of the blood brain barrier, thereby reducing parasite invasion into the brain, and likely limiting neurological damage. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - February 25, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
Scientists 'artificially evolve' sleeping sickness bacterium
Scientists are trying to artificially evolve a bacterium linked to the spread of deadly sleeping sickness, African Trypanosomiasis. They aim to better understand the genomics of Sodalis glossinidius, a bacteria which, when present in the gut, allows the Tsetse fly to become a carrier of the parasitic disease. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - January 19, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news
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)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - January 15, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
How trypanosome parasites communicate with each other
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 new study helps solve this mystery. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - January 14, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news
Rapid 'dipstick' test tackles fatal sleeping sickness
(Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council) Scientists have developed a quick and simple diagnosis method, similar to a dipstick pregnancy test, to fight a deadly sleeping sickness. The test to diagnose Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) just requires a pin-prick blood sample and will remove the need to take complex equipment into remote areas of sub-Saharan Africa. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - December 15, 2015 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
African sleeping sickness: Study suggests new way to help the immune system fight off parasite
African sleeping sickness, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma brucei, is transmitted by the tsetse fly and is fatal if left untreated. New research reveals a method to manipulate trypanosomes in the mammalian bloodstream to acquire fly stage characteristics. The findings suggest that inhibiting specific proteins can 'trick' the parasite into differentiating to a different stage of its lifecycle. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - December 8, 2015 Category: Science Source Type: news
Study suggests new way to help the immune system fight off sleeping sickness parasite
There are currently few treatments for the disease, and those that exist have substantial side effects. A new study reveals a method, involving epigenetic mechanisms, that causes the African sleeping sickness parasite to change into a new state, potentially making it easier for the host immune system to eliminate it. More » (Source: The Rockefeller University Newswire)
Source: The Rockefeller University Newswire - December 8, 2015 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: pubaff Tags: Science News African sleeping sickness chromatin F. Nina Papavasiliou Günter Blobel immunology Laboratory of Lymphocyte Biology parasitic infection small-molecule inhibitors Virology and Microbiology Source Type: news
Study suggests new way to help the immune system fight off sleeping sickness parasite
(Rockefeller University) There are currently few treatments for African sleeping sickness, and those that exist have substantial side effects. A new study reveals a method, involving epigenetic mechanisms, that causes the African sleeping sickness parasite to change into a state that potentially makes it easier for the host immune system to eliminate. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - December 8, 2015 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
Kenya: Breakthrough May End Sleeping Sickness
[The Star] A new method to control the spread of sleeping sickness has been unveiled. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)
Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - November 13, 2015 Category: African Health Source Type: news
Uganda: Cattle Trial Cuts Human Sleeping Sickness
[SciDev.Net] A method to stamp out human sleeping sickness by injecting cattle with a parasite-killing drug and spraying insecticide has proven effective in Uganda. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)
Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - November 10, 2015 Category: African Health Source Type: news
Global Health: New Treatment Slows an Epidemic of Sleeping Sickness
Cases of the disease declined among Ugandans after researchers began treating cattle. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - November 9, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. Tags: Uganda Makerere University Welburn, Susan University of Edinburgh Parasites Cattle Sleeping Sickness Africa Source Type: news
Global Health: New Treatment Slows an Epidemic of Sleeping Sickness
Cases of the disease declined among Ugandans after researchers began treating cattle. (Source: NYT)
Source: NYT - November 9, 2015 Category: American Health Authors: DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. Tags: Uganda Makerere University Welburn, Susan University of Edinburgh Parasites Cattle Sleeping Sickness Africa Source Type: news
Sleeping sickness study claims success
Researchers from Edinburgh University claim thousands of lives have been saved in Africa by a new initiative to combat sleeping sickness. (Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition)
Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition - November 9, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Cattle trial cuts human sleeping sickness
[BREAKING] Using parasite-killing drug on cattle and insecticide to kill the fly vector reduces cases by 90 per cent. (Source: SciDev.Net)
Source: SciDev.Net - November 9, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
