Characterisation of the porcine pathogen Trypanosoma suis
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Biological Sciences
Abstract
Salivarian trypanosomes, transmitted by biting tsetse fly, are the causative organisms of
trypanosomiasis in animals, including livestock. This devastating disease has severe financial
implications for landowners throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Recent work at the University of
Bristol has identified a previously unknown trypanosome culture as Trypanosoma suis
(Hutchinson & Gibson 2015 Rediscovery of T rypanosom a (Pycnomonas) suis, a
tsetse-transmitted trypanosome closely related to T . brucei. Infect Genet Evol. 36, 381-8).
There has been no lab isolate of this trypanosome for the last 60 years, so very little is known
about its distribution, pathogenicity, life cycle or gen ome. However, T . suis could provide new
information about the evolution of the trypanosomes due to its close relation to human infective
T. brucei and other, animal infective trypanosomes.
The focus of this project is to explore the biology of T . suis, using both parasitological and
molecular approaches, drawing on genomic and transcriptomic data resources from
collaborating institutions. The project will draw on a number of techniques and analyses from a
number of areas including: bioinformatics, imaging, molecular cell biology,
immunocytochemistry, parasitology, phylogenetics and genomics.
trypanosomiasis in animals, including livestock. This devastating disease has severe financial
implications for landowners throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Recent work at the University of
Bristol has identified a previously unknown trypanosome culture as Trypanosoma suis
(Hutchinson & Gibson 2015 Rediscovery of T rypanosom a (Pycnomonas) suis, a
tsetse-transmitted trypanosome closely related to T . brucei. Infect Genet Evol. 36, 381-8).
There has been no lab isolate of this trypanosome for the last 60 years, so very little is known
about its distribution, pathogenicity, life cycle or gen ome. However, T . suis could provide new
information about the evolution of the trypanosomes due to its close relation to human infective
T. brucei and other, animal infective trypanosomes.
The focus of this project is to explore the biology of T . suis, using both parasitological and
molecular approaches, drawing on genomic and transcriptomic data resources from
collaborating institutions. The project will draw on a number of techniques and analyses from a
number of areas including: bioinformatics, imaging, molecular cell biology,
immunocytochemistry, parasitology, phylogenetics and genomics.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Wendy Gibson (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Rachel Hutchinson (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BB/M009122/1 | 01/10/2015 | 31/03/2024 | |||
| 1790623 | Studentship | BB/M009122/1 | 01/10/2016 | 26/08/2021 | Rachel Hutchinson |
| Title | The Invaders |
| Description | Created as part of the 2018 Creative Reactions project, these pieces by artist Mary Rouncefield were the result of a collaboration with scientist Rachel Hutchinson. The first piece: "They Get Inside Your Head" was a 3D piece of textiles, circuit boards and metal that resembled a trypanosome-infested human head and represented the disrupting effect that trypanosomiasis can have on the central nervous system of the host. The second piece: "The Invaders" was a picturebook with painted artwork which gave an introduction to tsetse, trypanosomes and trypanosomiasis in an accessible and visually engaging format. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Impact | Created as part of the 2018 Creative Reactions project, these pieces by artist Mary Rouncefield were the result of a collaboration with scientist Rachel Hutchinson. The pieces were featured in the public Creative Reactions SciArt Exhibition which ran from 11/05/2018 to 22/05/2018 as part of the Bristol Pint of Science Festival (details here: https://pintofscience.co.uk/event/creative-reactions-bristol-launch). The artwork was also exhibited at the University of Bath Vision of Science Exhibition 2018. This artwork was also publicised on Twitter, and can be viewed at the following link: 'They Get Inside Your Head': https://twitter.com/maryrouncefield/status/1040586989668581377 Impacts of this artwork include: - Increased awareness of parasites, and parasite-related diseases, trypanosomiasis in particular. - Engaging the public with science by making it interesting, visually engaging, fun and accessible. - Informing the of some of the research funded by UK research councils. The artwork was also featured in a number of blogs and articles: Bristol University Press Release: Creative reactions 2018 - Merging research and art (http://www.bristol.ac.uk/biology/news/2018/creative-reactions-2018.html) BugBitten Blog: The Creative Reactions Project (http://blogs.biomedcentral.com/bugbitten/2018/06/19/the-creative-reactions-project/) |
| URL | http://blogs.biomedcentral.com/bugbitten/2018/06/19/the-creative-reactions-project/ |
| Description | Developed a method for culture and maintenance of Trypanosoma suis in the lab, allowing for further research into this organism. Developed a suite of molecular tools for genetic manipulation of Trypanosoma suis. Identified multiple morphological forms of Trypanosoma suis, corresponding to different life cycle stages of this parasite. |
| Exploitation Route | Trypanosoma suis is a livestock pathogen, infecting pigs in sub-Saharan Africa. The pig industry in Africa is greater than ever, and numbers of pigs kept as livestock is still rising. Therefore, it is imperative that we establish an understanding of Trypanosoma suis in order to reduce the impact of this parasite on the output of the pig agricultural sector. The outcomes of this funding are essential in building a foundation for future research to develop ways to combat this parasite and the wasting disease it causes. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Description | Research group twitter account |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I set up and run the @BristolTryps twitter account to engage with other scientists, and the general public, on social media. The account content is a mix of research, science-humor and topical posts. We have followers all over the world and have high levels of engagement with our posts. A surprising number of attendees at the 2018 Meeting on Livestock Trypanosomiasis at the University of Bristol claimed they found out about the conference via our twitter account. We have also found that our research papers have received much higher public interest when shared on social media, and have even been picked up by national news. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/BristolTryps |