Preventing sleeping sickness by blocking parasites from tsetse fly bites
Trypanosome Transmission Biology in Tsetse
This project develops ways to stop trypanosome parasites from being passed to people by tsetse fly bites, aiming to protect communities in affected parts of sub‑Saharan Africa.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11247478 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my point of view, researchers are studying what happens at the site of a tsetse fly bite and how the parasite and the fly’s saliva interact with the body’s immune defenses. They will examine molecular and immune signals in the fly’s salivary glands and in bitten mammalian tissue to learn how very small numbers of parasites start infection. The team plans lab experiments and field‑linked work that could support a vaccine-like approach that blocks parasites at the moment they enter the skin. Successful methods could also reduce animal infections and help local food and farming security.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living in or frequently working in tsetse‑infested areas of sub‑Saharan Africa, especially in rural or conflict‑affected regions where sleeping sickness is still a risk, would be the main candidates for related prevention efforts.
Not a fit: People already infected with sleeping sickness or those who do not live in or travel to tsetse‑exposed regions would not directly benefit from this prevention‑focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a transmission‑blocking vaccine or other prevention tools that reduce new cases of human African trypanosomiasis and lower livestock losses.
How similar studies have performed: There have been promising laboratory findings on bite‑site biology and vector control, but transmission‑blocking vaccines for sleeping sickness remain largely untested in people and are still at an early stage.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Aksoy, Serap — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Aksoy, Serap
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 below.