Publications by authors named "Paul J G Barry"
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
November 2016
Article Synopsis
- Trypanosoma brucei is a parasite that causes sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in animals, posing a significant health issue in sub-Saharan Africa, where effective treatments are limited.
- Current treatments are stage-dependent and often inadequate, especially in the critical meningoencephalitic stage, highlighting the need for new therapies and a better understanding of parasite immune evasion.
- This study finds that indolepyruvate, a compound excreted by T. brucei, plays a crucial role in reducing inflammation and aiding the parasite's survival by modulating immune responses, specifically by lowering levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β through effects on the transcription factor HIF-1α.
