Immunobiology of African trypanosomes: need of alternative interventions

Abstract

Trypanosomiasis is one of the major parasitic diseases for which control is still far from reality. The vaccination approaches by using dominant surface proteins have not been successful, mainly due to antigenic variation of the parasite surface coat. On the other hand, the chemotherapeutic drugs in current use for the treatment of this disease are toxic and problems of resistance are increasing (see Kennedy (2004) and Legros et al. (2002)). Therefore, alternative approaches in both treatment and vaccination against trypanosomiasis are needed at this time. To be able to design and develop such alternatives, the biology of this parasite and the host response against the pathogen need to be studied. These two aspects of this disease with few examples of alternative approaches are discussed here.

Figure 1

Distribution of tsetse and cattle raising area in Africa http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/lecture/trypanosomiasis.htm.

Figure 2

Classification of trypanosomes.

Figure 3

Life cycle of African trypanosomes, http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/HTML/TrypanosomiasisAfrican.htm.

Figure 4

Trypanosome-host interaction (from [208]). Model for induction classical (caMϕ) and alternative activation (caMϕ) of macrophages during trypanosome infection; TLTF: trypanosome-derived lymphocyte-triggering factor.