TRITRYP GENOMES

The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute played a major role in the sequencing of the genomes of Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania major, two of the three 'tritryp' genome sequences published in 2005.

Known as 'neglected diseases' because relatively little effort has been applied to finding cures, diseases caused by T. brucei, its South American relative T. cruzi and Leishmania together kill more than 150 000 people every year, and debilitate millions more.

One of the most surprising findings revealed by the genome sequencing was the extent of antigenic diversity coded within the T. brucei genome. To evade host immune responses, the parasite periodically switches its surface protein coat. Its genome has turned out to contain far more coat protein genes than was previously thought, enhancing its ability to escape the attention of the immune system.

The T. brucei and Leishmania genomes were sequenced at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, in partnership with the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, and The Institute for Genome Research in the USA.

In partnership with sequencing centres and the World Health Organization's Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), the Wellcome Trust produced a CD-ROM package including the three genome sequences, genome-browsing software, PDFs of the Science articles, background material, and introductory tutorials on parasite biology and their diseases. The CD-ROMs are available from TDR free to researchers in developing countries.

The Sanger Institute also published the sequence of Theileria annulata, a parasite of cattle that has a devastating impact on farming, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Clues to the organism's biology revealed by the genome sequence are suggesting new approaches to drug and vaccine development.

See also

• Triple disease sequencing (Press release: 14 July 2005)
• Three of a kind: History and legacy of tritryp parasites (Feature: 15 July 2005)
• United front: Uncovering the tritryp genomes (Feature: 15 July 2005)
• Moving forward: The trypanosome flagellum (Feature: 15 July 2005)
• Fighting back: The immune response to the Leishmania and vaccine development (Feature: 15 July 2005)
• Puppy dogs tales: Breaking the transmission of the tritryps (Feature: 15 July 2005)
• Tackling tritryps: The biology and business of drug development (Feature: 15 July 2005)

External links

• Ivens AC et al. The genome of the kinetoplastid parasite, Leishmania major. Science 2005;309(5733):436–42.
• Berriman M et al. The genome of the African trypanosome Trypanosoma brucei. Science 2005;309(5733):416–22.
• Pain A et al. Genome of the host-cell transforming parasite Theileria annulata compared with T. parva. Science 2005;309(5731):131–3.

Image: Dr Matt Berriman, who led the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute team.