AI Article Synopsis
- African trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness, is caused by trypanosomes and is linked to changes in tryptophan levels in the body.
- Seric antibodies target a specific tryptophan-rich sequence in the trypanosome's surface glycoprotein, indicating a compromised tryptophan pathway during infection.
- A decrease in tryptophan correlates with increased activity of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), which could worsen disease symptoms, as inhibiting IDO leads to higher parasite numbers and may contribute to neurological issues associated with sleeping sickness.
Article Abstract
African trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness is caused by extracellular trypanosomes. The presence of seric antibodies directed to a tryptophan-like epitope in trypanosome infected patients and animals led us to investigate the roles of tryptophan in trypanosomiasis. These antibodies are directed against a tryptophan-rich conserved sequence inside the major parasite surface glycoprotein. In vitro, a rapid uptake of tryptophan by trypanosomes is measured. Seric tryptophan levels are decreased during trypanosomiasis. This decrease may be linked with an increase in indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) induced by Interferon-gamma. In vivo inhibition of IDO by norharman provokes a dramatic increase in circulating parasite number. All these data show the essential role of tryptophan in parasite growth. Moreover, antibodies against tryptophan, the decreased concentration of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain following infection and the tryptophan metabolites (tryptophol) produced by trypanosomes may participate to the pathophysiological mechanisms provoking sleeping sickness.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4709-9_65 | DOI Listing |
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