title: The silicon trypanosome.
abstract: African trypanosomes have emerged as promising unicellular model organisms for the next generation of systems biology. They offer unique advantages, due to their relative simplicity, the availability of all standard genomics techniques and a long history of quantitative research. Reproducible cultivation methods exist for morphologically and physiologically distinct life-cycle stages. The genome has been sequenced, and microarrays, RNA-interference and high-accuracy metabolomics are available. Furthermore, the availability of extensive kinetic data on all glycolytic enzymes has led to the early development of a complete, experiment-based dynamic model of an important biochemical pathway. Here we describe the achievements of trypanosome systems biology so far and outline the necessary steps towards the ambitious aim of creating a 'Silicon Trypanosome', a comprehensive, experiment-based, multi-scale mathematical model of trypanosome physiology. We expect that, in the long run, the quantitative modelling enabled by the Silicon Trypanosome will play a key role in selecting the most suitable targets for developing new anti-parasite drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Center for Liver, Digestive and Metabolic Diseases, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands. b.m.bakker@med.umcg.nl
authors.forename: Barbara M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Bakker
authors.forename: R Luise
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Krauth-Siegel
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Clayton
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Girolami
authors.forename: Hans V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Westerhoff
authors.forename: Paul A M
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Michels
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Breitling
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Barrett
mesh_terms: D010274:Parasitology / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D049490:Systems Biology / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D014345:Trypanosoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*