Newly discovered protein blocks sleeping sickness

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3D illustration. Trypanosoma parasites transmitted by the tsetse fly and causing
3D illustration. Trypanosoma parasites transmitted by the tsetse fly and causing sleeping sickness. Illustration: depositphotos

Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), or sleeping sickness, is a neglected tropical disease that affects millions of people and is fatal if left untreated. Most treatments and preventative options, however, are not very effective. New research identifies a protein that could pave the way toward drugs against sleeping sickness.

Sleeping sickness evades the immune system

Hitchhiking in the gut and mouthparts of the tsetse fly, microscopic parasites known as trypanosomes can cause fatal disease in mammals, including humans. In Sub-Saharan Africa, trypanosomes that infect humans cause sleeping sickness or Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT). A similar disease in livestock is known as nagana or Animal African Trypanosomiasis (AAT). ...

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