Eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases
with Oxford Brookes
Neglected tropical diseases (NDTs) are a diverse group of conditions caused by a variety of pathogens and associated with devastating health, social and economic consequences. NTDs are mainly prevalent among impoverished communities in tropical areas, however, they are becoming more prevalent and presenting a wider risk to more people as our climate warms and the vectors carrying these diseases can be brought in and survive in an increasing number of previously uninhabitable countries.
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Scientists at the Institut Pasteur and Oxford Brookes University are collaborating on research into trypanosomes and leishmania, a family of protozoan parasites responsible for causing three potentially fatal NTDs:
Sleeping sickness is a parasitic disease, mostly affecting poor populations living in remote rural areas of Central Africa. Untreated, it is usually fatal. The disease progresses in two stages, starting with symptoms such as headaches, fever, weakness and joint pains. The parasite overtime crosses the blood-brain barrier and migrates to the central nervous system. In this second stage, the disease causes neurological changes including sleep disorders, deep sensory disturbances, abnormal mobility, seizures, coma and ultimately death.
Chagas disease affects about 6-7 million people worldwide (mostly in Central and South America) leading to approximately 12,000 deaths every year. Chagas presents in two phases. The initial acute phase lasts for about two months after infection and can cause symptoms such as fever, headache and muscle pain. One to three decades after infection, up to a third of patients suffer from cardiac disorders and 1 in 10 suffer from digestive, neurological or mixed alterations. In later years, these patients may experience the destruction of the nervous system and heart muscle, consequent cardiac arrhythmias or progressive heart failure, and sudden death.
Leishmaniasis is caused by a group of cousin parasites called Leishmania that can be transmitted by the bite of over 90 sandfly species. There are three main forms of the disease. If untreated, visceral leishmaniasis is fatal in over 95% of cases. Cutaneous leishmaniasis causes skin lesions and can leave life- long scares and cause serious disability and stigma. Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis leads to partial or total destruction of mucous membranes of the nose, mouth and throat.
Impact of the Climate Crisis
Many NTDs go through waves of reduction and increase, and at times, some of them have appeared to be on the brink of elimination. However, the reduction in cases also brings about challenges. As the burden drops, so does the sensitivity of any diagnostic test, the investment into research and the number of scientists with knowledge of the disease.
As climate change becomes increasingly prevalent, it is likely we will begin to see more cases of NTDs in parts of the world that have not previously been at risk, as conditions in these areas become more habitable for the vectors carrying these parasites. For example, cases of Leishmaniasis are becoming increasingly common in Europe with imported cases coming from Africa and the Americas. Similarly, there are increasing cases of Chagas reported in Southern states of the United States of America whereas previously it had been restricted to Latin American nations.
Working together to eliminate NTDs
The Institut Pasteur and Oxford Brookes University have joined forces and research expertise to better understand the parasites causing these diseases and how to combat them.
Philippe Bastin heads the Trypanosome Cell Biology lab at the Institut Pasteur. The lab studies African trypanosomes with Philippe’s team focusing on the cell biology aspect of the parasite. Philippe focuses in particular on the flagellum, an organelle essential for parasite survival, and the techniques of how proteins are transported in and out of the flagellum.
At Oxford Brookes University, Professor Sue Vaughan leads a lab which focuses on the cell biology of trypanosomes with a focus on the flagellum and the flagellar pocket. Sue’s lab uses a variety of cutting-edge 3D microscopy techniques to look at proteins entering the pocket area of the flagellum.
Phillipe and Sue have been collaborating on research on and off for 25 years since they met and worked together at Manchester University. They are currently looking together at the question of how the trypanosome parasite regulates proteins going into the flagellum.
Student Exchange
In addition to Philippe and Sue’s research collaborations, they also encourage their students to partake in exchanges between the Institut Pasteur and Oxford Brookes University. Most recently Oxford Brookes University PhD student, Molly Hair visited Philippe’s lab at the Institut Pasteur where she brought and studied mutant trypanosomes. Currently, Aline Araujo Alves, a post-doctoral researcher at the Institut Pasteur is at Sue’s lab in Oxford where she has identified two new cytosolic assembly factors of paraflagellar rod in Trypanosoma brucei. Molly and Aline’s exchanges have already prompted further research questions for Sue and Philippe to explore into how mutations at the gate of the flagellum affect transportation of proteins throughout.
This partnership shows the strength of cross-border collaboration and the importance of student exchange between labs as a springboard for new research avenues. The average cost for a three- year PhD is £200,000 including salary, travel and subsistence. One PF-UK Impact Grant would fully fund a PhD student taking part in one of these valuable exchanges which could lead to important breakthroughs in the lab going forward.
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How can you help?
By making a gift to Pasteur Foundation- UK, you will be supporting our PF- UK Impact Grant programme. PF-UK Impact Grant's support projects like this one that see scientists at the Institut Pasteur and a UK institution joining forces and research expertise to tackle global public health challenges together.
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If you would like to explore setting up your own PF-UK Impact Grant, or would like to learn more about this specific project, please get in touch with our Head of Development, Sarah Bridge.