Trypanosomes as a magnifying glass for cell and molecular biology

• Published in: Trends in parasitology 2023-11, Vol.39 (11), p.902-912
• Main Authors: Lukeš, Julius, Speijer, Dave, Zíková, Alena, Alfonzo, Juan D., Hashimi, Hassan, Field, Mark C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: alternative oxidase; cell biology; drugs; endocytosis; genetic code; glycosome; GPI-anchor; Molecular Biology; parasitology; pathogens; protists; public health; RNA editing; tRNA import; Trypanosoma - genetics; Trypanosoma brucei; Trypanosoma brucei brucei - genetics
• ISSN: 1471-4922; 1471-5007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.08.004

Trypanosoma brucei has unique features, a critical phylogenetic position, and is experimentally tractable, allowing considerable contributions to biology.We focus on eight outstanding topics: glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor; endocytosis; RNAi; genetic code variations; tRNA import; RNA editing; glycosome; alternative oxidase.These showcase trypanosomatids critically inform molecular and cellular biology.Some of these examples overturned molecular dogma based on understanding derived mainly from animals and fungi.Public health campaigns and new drugs have all but eliminated the threat of African trypanosomiasis to health and economic wellbeing.This endangers ongoing support for research into these flagellates, which, we believe, should continue: more surprises likely await, while the tractability of T. brucei is important to understanding other trypanosomatids that remain a global threat. The African trypanosome, Trypanosoma brucei, has developed into a flexible and robust experimental model for molecular and cellular parasitology, allowing us to better combat these and related parasites that cause worldwide suffering. Diminishing case numbers, due to efficient public health efforts, and recent development of new drug treatments have reduced the need for continued study of T. brucei in a disease context. However, we argue that this pathogen has been instrumental in revolutionary discoveries that have widely informed molecular and cellular biology and justifies continuing research as an experimental model. Ongoing work continues to contribute towards greater understanding of both diversified and conserved biological features. We discuss multiple examples where trypanosomes pushed the boundaries of cell biology and hope to inspire researchers to continue exploring these remarkable protists as tools for magnifying the inner workings of cells. The African trypanosome, Trypanosoma brucei, has developed into a flexible and robust experimental model for molecular and cellular parasitology, allowing us to better combat these and related parasites that cause worldwide suffering. Diminishing case numbers, due to efficient public health efforts, and recent development of new drug treatments have reduced the need for continued study of T. brucei in a disease context. However, we argue that this pathogen has been instrumental in revolutionary discoveries that have widely informed molecular and cellular biology and justifies continuing research as an experimenta