Abstract

Rationale to Develop mRNA-based Vaccines for Trypanosoma brucei (a review)

Authors: Furqan Munir, Zia ud Din Sindhu, Muhammad Tayyeb, Rao Zahid Abbas, Amna Shakoor, Arslan Muhammad Ali Khan, Rida Asrar, Hamza Shrafat, Muhammad Haseeb Qamar, Sajjad Ahmad, Maria Kauser and Muhammad Tahir Aleem

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.71081/cvj/2023.004

Abstract
Human African trypanosomiasis and nagana diseases are caused by Trypanosoma species transmitted by infected Glossina flies. The disease is prevalent in African countries, particularly in rural areas where the vector is freely present and people acquire the infection during farming, fishing, hunting, or washing clothes. The control of tsetse fly and eradication of the reservoir from endemic areas is difficult. The two stages of the disease are responsible for different clinical symptoms. The drugs used for the treatment of infection are old and cause many side effects. The variant surface glycoprotein coating of the parasite is highly variant genetically and the parasite modifies coating during infection that leads to suppression or exhaustion of the immune system of the host that ultimately fails memory. The vaccines produced using the antigens from variant surface glycoprotein or flagellar pockets give partial protection and after some time become non- effective. The mRNA-based vaccines result in the production of memory cells therefore, the attention of the researcher may shift towards finding suitable candidates for mRNA-based vaccines. These mRNAs encode specific antigens by using the machinery of the host cells and after translation, are degraded by the cellular nucleases. The fragments of lysed mRNA also participate in the induction of strong immune responses. The purpose of this review is to create a roadmap for the development of mRNA vaccines against T. brucei.

Keywords: Trypanosome, Sleeping sickness, Nagana disease, Variant surface glycoprotein, Flagellar pocket, Genetic variation, Immunization