U.S.-U.K. Cooperative Research: Structure and Function of the Leishmania Paraflagellar Rod

这个为期三年的奖项支持普渡大学的Jonathan H. LeBowitz和英国曼彻斯特大学的Keith Gull在细胞生物学方面的美英合作研究。他们的研究目的是了解鞭毛旁杆（PFR）的结构和功能，鞭毛旁杆是锥虫鞭毛的细胞骨架亚结构。他们提出利用电子显微镜进行遗传、生化和细胞学实验，以便对墨西哥利什曼原虫PRF进行分子描述。PFR对利什曼原虫（一种原生动物寄生虫和人类病原体）的正常活动至关重要。然而，这种独特的细胞骨架结构的分子结构、组装和功能尚不清楚。它与其他细胞骨架蛋白缺乏相似性，其复杂的结构表明它是一种新型的丝和组织。美国研究者为这次合作带来了利什曼原虫分子生物学和分子遗传学方面的专业知识。这是由英国研究者在电子显微镜和免疫荧光显微镜方面的专业知识补充。这项研究工作将促进对PFR对寄生虫运动的功能重要性的理解，以及利用PFR成分作为抗利什曼原虫疫苗的潜力。

9724752 LeBowitz This three-year award supports US-UK collaborative research in cell biology between Jonathan H. LeBowitz, Purdue University and Keith Gull, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. The objective of their research is to understand the structure and function of the paraflagellar rod (PFR), a cytoskeletal substructure of trypanosomatid flagella. They propose genetic, biochemical and cytological experiments, using electron microscopy, in order to develop a molecular description of PRF in Leishmania mexicana. The PFR is essential for the normal motility of Leishmania, a protozoan parasite and human pathogen. Yet the molecular structure, assembly and function of this unique cytoskeletal structure are not well understood. Its lack of similarity to other cytoskeletal proteins and its complex architecture suggest a novel type of filament and organization. The US investigator brings to this collaboration expertise in molecular biology and molecular genetics of Leishmania. This is complemented by the UK investigator's expertise in electron microscopy and immunofluorescence microscopy. This research effort will advance understanding of the PFR's functional importance for parasite motility and the potential for utilizing PFR components as an anti-Leishmania vaccine.