Trypanosoma

What is Trypanosoma? Trypanosoma is a unicellular parasitic flagellate Protozoa. It is an obligate parasite – it cannot live independently of a host – and must have more than one host throughout the course of its life – an insect vector and a mammal host.

Trypanosoma Structure VSG – Variable Surface Glycoprotein – surface coat allows for little detection by the host's immune system Creates a dense, uniform shield Undergoes periodic antigenic cycling – it will basically change the antigens on the surface coat, making it difficult for the body to produce a specific immune response

Trypanosoma's Importance to the Population... Most famously, this protozoan causes two deadly diseases: African Sleeping Sickness in much of mid-Africa, and Chagas in Central and South America. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aVUrGO97Zg

Works Cited http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aVUrGO97Zg http://www.ilri.org/InfoServ/Webpub/Fulldocs/IlradRe1989v7n1/FIG%201%20P1.gif http://assassinbug.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/trypanosoma_cruzi_lifecycle.gif http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Trypanosoma http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trypanosoma http://tolweb.org/Trypanosoma/98034