title: The molecular arms race between African trypanosomes and humans.
abstract: Humans can survive bloodstream infection by African trypanosomes, owing to the activity of serum complexes that have efficient trypanosome-killing ability. The two trypanosome subspecies that are responsible for human sleeping sickness--Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and Trypanosoma brucei gambiense--can evade this defence mechanism by expressing distinct resistance proteins. In turn, sequence variation in the gene that encodes the trypanosome-killing component in human serum has enabled populations in western Africa to restore resistance to T. b. rhodesiense, at the expense of the high probability of developing kidney sclerosis. These findings highlight the importance of resistance to trypanosomes in human evolution.
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Institut de biologie et de médecine moléculaires (IBMM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 12 rue des Professeurs Jeener et Brachet, B6041 Gosselies, Belgium.
authors: Etienne
authors: E
authors: Pays
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Institut de biologie et de médecine moléculaires (IBMM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 12 rue des Professeurs Jeener et Brachet, B6041 Gosselies, Belgium.
authors: Benoit
authors: B
authors: Vanhollebeke
authors: 1] Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Institut de biologie et de médecine moléculaires (IBMM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 12 rue des Professeurs Jeener et Brachet, B6041 Gosselies, Belgium. [2] Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, André Vésale Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), B6110 Montigny-le-Tilleul, Belgium.
authors: Pierrick
authors: P
authors: Uzureau
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Institut de biologie et de médecine moléculaires (IBMM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 12 rue des Professeurs Jeener et Brachet, B6041 Gosselies, Belgium.
authors: Laurence
authors: L
authors: Lecordier
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Institut de biologie et de médecine moléculaires (IBMM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 12 rue des Professeurs Jeener et Brachet, B6041 Gosselies, Belgium.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Pérez-Morga
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000075944:Apolipoprotein L1; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005075:Biological Evolution; D060467:Disease Resistance / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014347:Trypanosoma brucei gambiense / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016833:Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C108666:APOL1 protein, human; D000075944:Apolipoprotein L1; D001053:Apolipoproteins; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL