Trypanosomiasis

This work reflects a longstanding collaboration with Prof Max Murray's group at the University Veterinary School on the pathogenesis of Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) also known as sleeping sickness. For the last 20 yrs we have been using a highly reproducible mouse model of the post-reactive treatment encephalopathy (PTRE) which is seen in HAT. Our long term goals are to better understand how the brain disease is caused by the infection and to devise more effective treatment for the disease. Our group has demonstrated, in collaboration with Susan Leeman, the role of Substance P in generating the inflammatory response seen in the PTRE, and more recently, with Stephen Hunt of UCL, we used SP knockout mice to elucidate the nature of the inflammatory response in the mouse model. Our recent work with Jeremy Sternberg has focussed on the balance of pro- and counter-inflammatory cytokines in generating the neuroinflammatory response in the mouse model of trypanosomiasis. We are currently studying the role of combination chemotherapy and the blood-brain barrier in determining disease outcome in a mouse model of HAT using 7T MRI (MRC funded). We are also defining the role of IL-10 both therapeutically and as a potential human biomarker of CNS disease (Wellcome Trust funded). This work is being carried out both in the mouse model of HAT and also in the Ugandan field in association with Dr Jeremy Sternberg (Aberdeen University) and Dr Enock Matovu (Makerere University, Kampala). Our work also has much relevance to animal trypanosomiasis.

Principal investigator:

Prof PGE Kennedy

Staff :

• Dr Jean Rodgers (post-doctoral research assistant)
• Mrs Barbara Bradley (research technician)
• Ms Amy Jones (PhD student)
• Dr Mohammad Nickbel (post-doctoral research assistant)
• Ms Denise Barthel (research technician)
• Prof Max Murray (senior hon. research fellow)

Main collaborators:

• Dr Jeremy Sternberg (University of Aberdeen)
• Prof Krister Kristennson (Karolinska Instiute, Stockholm)
• Prof Susan Leeman (Boston University)
• Dr Barrie Condon (Glasgow University)

Funding:

• Medical Research Council
• Wellcome Trust