Host-parasite interactions and trypanosome morphogenesis: a flagellar pocketful of goodies.
Trypanosomes are characterised by the possession of a single flagellum and a subpellicular microtubule cytoskeleton. The flagellum is more than an organelle for motility; its position and polarity along with the sub-pellicular cytoskeleton enables the morphogenesis of a distinct flagellar pocket and the flagellar basal body is responsible for positioning and segregating the kinetoplast--the mitochondrial genome. Recent work has highlighted the molecules and morphogenesis of these cytoskeletal/flagellum structures and how dynamic events, occurring in the flagellar pocket and kinetoplast, are critical for host-parasite interactions.
Gull
Keith
K
Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK. keith.gull@pathology.ox.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D005407:Flagella / Q000502:physiology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014774:Virulence