Discovery illuminates how sleeping sickness parasite outsmarts immune response

A new study sheds light on how the blood-borne parasite that causes African sleeping sickness in humans and related diseases in cattle and other animals establishes long-term infections in hosts. Using a mouse model, the researchers showed that Trypanosoma brucei essentially plays a game of hide-and-seek by setting up shop in its hosts' tissues, allowing it to constantly change its protective surface coat and evade antibodies.

Discovery illuminates how sleeping sickness parasite outsmarts immune response
A new study sheds light on how the blood-borne parasite that causes African sleeping sickness in humans and related diseases in cattle and other animals establishes long-term infections in hosts. Using a mouse model, the researchers showed that Trypanosoma brucei essentially plays a game of hide-and-seek by setting up shop in its hosts' tissues, allowing it to constantly change its protective surface coat and evade antibodies.