Although treatments exist for numerous parasitic diseases, medical
help in the tropics is not always available, and the treatments
themselves can be deadly. Millions die or suffer from disfiguring
lesions each year. Mensa-Wilmot and his lab are focusing on
understanding diseases caused by Leishmania and T. Brucei, parasites
that Mensa-Wilmot calls “cousins in crime."
Mensa-Wilmot's lab works on three areas. First, they are studying
the metabolism of GPIs (glycosyl phosphatidylinositols), which
attach plasma membrane proteins to the parasite cells' surface.
Second, they are interested in a cell structure called the
endoplasmic reticulum, through which protozoans deliver proteins
to their cell surface. Finally, the team is studying how Leishmania
decipher information in their messenger RNAs for protein synthesis.
T. brucei, transmitted by the tsetse fly, is a similar threat.
The parasite changes its surface coat to evade white blood cells,
so developing a vaccine is not feasible. However, protozoan
parasites share a structure--called the GPI anchor--which attaches
surface proteins to the membranes. Interfering with the GPI
anchor could make the parasites less virulent or completely
eliminate them. Mensa-Wilmot's lab is at the forefront of research
in understanding how GPIs help Leishmania and T. brucei establish
infections in animals.
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