How a parasite protein (RAP1) helps cause African sleeping sickness
Official title: Essential functions of Trypanosoma brucei RAP1
Funded at Cleveland State University · NIH-11222701 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at how the parasite protein RAP1 helps sleeping sickness parasites hide from the immune system, which could help people at risk of African trypanosomiasis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | December 6, 2023 |
| Project end | October 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $437,631 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI179972-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11222701 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living in or traveling to regions with African sleeping sickness, or patients who could donate parasite samples to research, would be most directly connected to this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with unrelated conditions or those hoping for an immediate new treatment are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic laboratory research.
What this research studies
From my perspective as someone affected by sleeping sickness, the team will study the parasite that causes the illness to see how RAP1 controls the parasite's surface coat proteins (VSGs). They will compare normal parasites with mutant parasites that cannot bind DNA or interact properly with partner proteins to see how that changes VSG expression and parasite growth. Lab experiments will map where RAP1 sits on parasite chromosomes and measure effects on gene activity and parasite survival. The work aims to reveal molecular steps the parasite uses to switch its surface antigens and avoid immune attack.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new drug or vaccine targets that prevent the parasite from hiding from the immune system.
How similar studies have gone: Prior laboratory studies have shown RAP1 is important for telomere integrity and control of surface antigen expression, but turning these basic findings into therapies has not yet been achieved.
Where this research is happening
-
Cleveland State University
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Bibo — Cleveland State University
- Study coordinator: Li, Bibo
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.