# Biochemical and Functional Analysis of Trypanin

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2020 · $454,875

## Abstract

Abstract
The flagellated protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei is responsible for African trypanosomiasis, which is
transmitted by the tsetse fly and causes widespread mortality and morbidity of humans and livestock in sub-
Saharan Africa. Sleeping sickness is fatal if untreated, yet no vaccine exists and current treatments are old,
toxic and difficult to administer. Thus, there is a pressing need for research to better understand these
parasites and facilitate development of new therapeutic interventions. T. brucei depends on its flagellum for cell
motility, coordination of signaling in response to the external environment, interaction with host tissues, and cell
morphogenesis and division. Thus, the trypanosome flagellum is essential for parasite survival, transmission
through the fly vector, and infection of the mammalian host. The long-term goal of our studies is to understand
how motility and host-parasite interactions provided by the trypanosome flagellum contribute to infection and
pathogenesis. Much is known about flagellum composition and structure, but important questions remain
regarding the specific proteins and interactions that underlie trypanosome-specific motility and the role of
motility during host infection. To address these knowledge gaps, we will employ motility mutants and mouse
infection models to address the role of motility in avoidance of the host immune response and penetration of
extravascular tissues, which both impact disease pathogenesis and transmission. We will also use
cryoelectron tomography, together with mutational analysis, to build a three-dimensional molecular model of
the flagellum and elucidate proteins that comprise trypanosome-specific flagellum structures and functions.
Our focus is on the flagellum of T. brucei. However, flagella are important for many other pathogenic protozoa
as well as for normal human development and health. Therefore, we expect our results to be of wide interest
for the community studying pathogenesis of parasitic protozoa, human development and physiology, and
fundamental biology of eukaryotes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9964638
- **Project number:** 5R01AI052348-17
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** KENT L HILL
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $454,875
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2002-06-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9964638

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9964638, Biochemical and Functional Analysis of Trypanin (5R01AI052348-17). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9964638. Licensed CC0.

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