Silencing Signals Sent by Parasite Could Prevent Sleeping Sickness

Scientists have made a new discovery that could potentially help tackle the spread of a parasite that causes sleeping sickness.

Researchers believe that new insights on how the parasites spread the disease could help to limit the transfer of infection and ward off future problems.

Background information from the study notes that sleep sickness is transmitted via the bite of the tsetse fly. At this time, more than 69 million people in Africa are estimated to be at risk for the infection. And unfortunately, if left untreated, it can damage the nervous system, possibly leading to a coma and organ failure.

An infection of the sleeping disease causes the parasites, known as African trypanosomes, to multiply in the bloodstream and communicate with each other through releasing a small molecule that signals for them to stop replicating and change form. When this happens, they are picked up by biting flies and spread to others-thus creating higher infection rates.

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh uncovered key components of the parasites' messaging system by using a technique known as gene silencing in order to identify the genes that are used to respond to the communication signals and mechanisms involved.

"Parasites are adept at communicating with one another to promote their survival in our bodies and ensure their spread - but by manipulating their messages, new ways to combat these infections are likely to emerge," Professor Keith Matthews, of the University of Edinburgh's School of Biological Sciences, who led the research said, via a press release. 

The findings suggest that new drugs could be designed to disrupt the flow of messages sent between these infectious microorganisms.

More information regarding the study can be found via the journal Nature.