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Metabolomic Systems Biology of Protozoan Parasites

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Genetics Meets Metabolomics

Abstract

Infectious diseases caused by protozoan parasites lead to a substantial health burden and mortality in developing countries. The search for better drugs and optimized treatment regimes justifies basic research into the biology of these organisms. At the same time, these deep-branching eukaryotes are interesting model organisms for systems biology: their unicellular parasitic life style, the associated reduced metabolic capacity together with some unique genomic adaptations allow comprehensive studies that are not easily possible in multicellular organisms. They can therefore be used to explore advanced concepts and technologies, before they are applied to more complex systems. This chapter presents case studies of metabolomics systems biology on two major protozoan pathogens, the African trypanosome Trypanosoma brucei, causative agent of sleeping sickness, and the Leishmania donovani parasites responsible for visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar, on the Indian subcontinent.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the SilicoTryp and GeMInI consortia for their contribution to the research that forms the basis of this review. The SysMO-funded SilicoTryp project aims at the reconstruction of a comprehensive computational model of trypanosome biology. It includes partners from the University of Glasgow, UK, University College London, UK, University of Groningen, NL, University of Heidelberg, Germany, and University of Edinburgh, UK. The GeMInI consortium initiated by the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium, combines large-scale genomic sequencing and metabolomic analysis for a better understanding of the natural diversity of leishmaniasis. It involves partners from the B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Nepal, Strathclyde University, UK, Sanger Institute, UK, University of Glasgow, UK, University of Groningen, NL, and the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Joseph Black Building B3.10, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK

    Rainer Breitling

  2. Groningen Bioinformatics Centre, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, Groningen, 9747 AG, The Netherlands

    Rainer Breitling

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Center for Liver, Digestive and Metabolic Diseases, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, Groningen, 9713 GZ, The Netherlands

    Barbara M. Bakker

  4. Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Sir Graeme Davies Building, Glasgow, UK

    Michael P. Barrett

  5. Department of Parasitology, Unit of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, B-2000, Belgium

    Saskia Decuypere & Jean-Claude Dujardin

Authors
  1. Rainer Breitling
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  2. Barbara M. Bakker
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  3. Michael P. Barrett
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  4. Saskia Decuypere
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  5. Jean-Claude Dujardin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rainer Breitling .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Qatar Foundation-Education City, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Education City – Qatar Foundation, Doha, 24144, Qatar

    Karsten Suhre

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Breitling, R., Bakker, B.M., Barrett, M.P., Decuypere, S., Dujardin, JC. (2012). Metabolomic Systems Biology of Protozoan Parasites. In: Suhre, K. (eds) Genetics Meets Metabolomics. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1689-0_6

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