Tsetse fly gut bacteria and African sleeping sickness
Genetics and physiology of the tsetse fly bacterial endosymbiont Sodalis glossinidius
['FUNDING_R01'] · PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV HERSHEY MED CTR · NIH-11261155
Researchers are learning how a common bacterium inside tsetse flies helps the bugs carry the parasites that cause African sleeping sickness.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV HERSHEY MED CTR (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (HERSHEY, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11261155 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From my perspective, scientists are studying the genetics and behavior of the bacterium Sodalis that lives inside tsetse flies, which spread sleeping sickness. They will use new methods to introduce DNA into Sodalis cells to find the bacterial genes that allow it to live inside fly tissues and interact with trypanosome parasites. The team will examine how Sodalis invades, survives, replicates, and exits host cells, and how those actions affect the fly's ability to carry parasites. This lab-focused work may also include comparisons with flies or parasite-infected tissues and could inform future field or intervention approaches.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living in or near tsetse-endemic areas of sub-Saharan Africa, or those at risk of exposure, would be most connected to future field studies or interventions arising from this research.
Not a fit: People who do not live in or travel to areas where tsetse flies transmit sleeping sickness are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to block parasite transmission by tsetse flies and reduce cases of human and animal African trypanosomiasis.
How similar studies have performed: Paratransgenesis and symbiont-based approaches have shown promise in laboratory settings but remain largely experimental with limited success in the field so far.
Where this research is happening
HERSHEY, UNITED STATES
- PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV HERSHEY MED CTR — HERSHEY, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: PONTES, MAURICIO HENRIQUES — PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV HERSHEY MED CTR
- Study coordinator: PONTES, MAURICIO HENRIQUES
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.