Scientists solve 40-year-old mystery of how sleeping sickness parasite hides

A University of York team identified a protein called ESB2 that selectively removes specific RNA messages, explaining how the sleeping sickness parasite maintains a dominant protective surface coat; the study appears in Nature Microbiology.

Researchers report a finding that explains how the parasite behind sleeping sickness evades the human immune system. The team at the University of York identified a protein named ESB2 that acts during gene expression to remove certain genetic messages. The parasite uses a dense coat of variant surface glycoproteins (VSGs) to remain hidden in the bloodstream. The new work helps explain why the parasite produces many coat proteins but only small amounts of associated helper proteins. Key findings: - The study reports that ESB2 selectively degrades RNA sections that would otherwise produce helper proteins, altering which proteins are ultimately made. - This selective RNA decay allows the parasite to express a large amount of VSG coat while keeping other protein outputs low. - The research was led by scientists at the University of York and is published in Nature Microbiology. - The authors state the mechanism reveals a biological vulnerability that may inform future research into treatments. Summary: The finding resolves a long-standing question about how the sleeping sickness parasite controls its surface proteins and clarifies a puzzling pattern of gene expression. Undetermined at this time.