Genetic dissection of drug resistance in trypanosomes

Sam Alsford (Lead / Corresponding author), John M. Kelly, Nicola Baker, David Horn

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    40 Citations (Scopus)
    47 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    The trypanosomes cause two neglected tropical diseases, Chagas disease in the Americas and African trypanosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa. Over recent years a raft of molecular tools have been developed enabling the genetic dissection of many aspects of trypanosome biology, including the mechanisms underlying resistance to some of the current clinical and veterinary drugs. This has led to the identification and characterization of key resistance determinants, including transporters for the anti-Trypanosoma brucei drugs, melarsoprol, pentamidine and eflornithine, and the activator of nifurtimox-benznidazole, the anti-Trypanosoma cruzi drugs. More recently, advances in sequencing technology, combined with the development of RNA interference libraries in the clinically relevant bloodstream form of T. brucei have led to an exponential increase in the number of proteins known to interact either directly or indirectly with the anti-trypanosomal drugs. In this review, we discuss these findings and the technological developments that are set to further revolutionise our understanding of drug-trypanosome interactions. The new knowledge gained should inform the development of novel interventions against the devastating diseases caused by these parasites.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1478-1491
    Number of pages14
    JournalParasitology
    Volume140
    Issue number12
    Early online date3 Apr 2013
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Oct 2013

    Keywords

    • drug resistance
    • RNA interference
    • Trypanosoma brucei
    • Trypanosoma cruzi

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Parasitology
    • Animal Science and Zoology
    • Infectious Diseases

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