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Cited by 57Trypanosoma species research and implicationsHIV/AIDS Research and InterventionsReproductive tract infections research

Biological and demographic causes of high HIV and sexually transmitted disease prevalence in men who have sex with men.

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Goodreau, S. M, Golden, M. R·2007·Sexually Transmitted Infections
DOI 10.1136/sti.2007.025627PMC PMC2598698
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Abstract

Abstract Trypanosoma brucei gambiense is the primary causative agent of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), a vector-borne disease endemic to West and Central Africa. The extracellular parasite evades antibody recognition within the host bloodstream by altering its Variant Surface Glycoprotein (VSG) coat through a process of antigenic variation. The serological tests which are widely used to screen for HAT use VSG as one of the target antigens. However, the VSGs expressed during human infection have not been characterized. Here we use VSG-seq to analyze the VSGs expressed in the blood of patients infected with T. b. gambiense and compared them to VSG expression in T. b. rhodesiense infections in humans as well as T. b. brucei infections in mice. The 44 VSGs expressed during T. b. gambiense infection revealed a striking bias towards expression of type B N-termini (82% of detected VSGs). This bias is specific to T. b. gambiense, which is unique among T. brucei subspecies in its chronic clinical presentation and anthroponotic nature, pointing towards a potential link between VSG expression and pathogenesis. The expressed T. b. gambiense VSGs also share very little similarity to sequences from 36 T. b. gambiense whole genome sequencing datasets, particularly in areas of the VSG protein exposed to host antibodies, suggesting that wild T. brucei VSG repertoires vary more than previously expected. Overall, this work demonstrates new features of antigenic variation in T. brucei gambiense and highlights the importance of understanding VSG repertoires in nature. Significance Statement Human African Trypanosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease primarily caused by the extracellular parasite Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. To avoid elimination by the host, these parasites repeatedly replace their Variant Surface Glycoprotein (VSG) coat. Despite the important role of VSGs in prolonging infection, VSG expression during human infections is poorly understood. A better understanding of natural VSG gene expression dynamics can clarify the mechanisms that T. brucei uses to alter its VSG coat and improve trypanosomiasis diagnosis in humans. We analyzed the expressed VSGs detected in the blood of patients with trypanosomiasis. Our findings indicate that there are features of antigenic variation unique to human-infective T. brucei subspecies and VSGs expressed in natural infection may vary more than previously expected.

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  • These factors, along with sexual network or higher community disease prevalence, can increase the risk for STIs among MSM compared with other groups.

    “These factors, along with sexual network or higher community disease prevalence, can increase the risk for STIs among MSM compared with other groups (183,184).”

    From Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021 (2021) · cites this paper as [184]

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Authors
Goodreau, S. M., & Golden, M. R.
Affiliations
University of Washington (US)
Corresponding author
Goodreau, S. M
ORCID
Venue
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2007-07-11
Volume
83
Issue
6
Pages
458-462
ISSN
  • 0007-134X (ISSN-L)
  • 1368-4973
DOI
10.1136/sti.2007.025627
PMC
PMC2598698
OpenAlex
W2035308009
Cited by
57
References
27
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 9
FWCI
1.60
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Sexually Transmitted Infections (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01da012831-06)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01-DA012831)
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (K23AI001846, K23-AI01846, T32AI007140)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R24HD042828)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Trypanosoma species research and implications
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Microbiology › Reproductive tract infections research
Keywords
Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, sleeping sickness, variant surface glycoprotein, antigenic variation, Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Trypanosoma brucei brucei
MeSH terms
Demography, Female, Humans, Male, Sexual Behavior, Sexual Partners, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, United States, Models, Statistical, HIV Infections, Prevalence, Homosexuality, Male, Unsafe Sex

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