Unlocking the Secrets of the Human Innate Immune System Using Cryo-EM and Trypanosomes
In a recent breakthrough, scientists have discovered a new way to study how the human body defends itself from disease-causing parasites. Through cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), researchers were able to see how the innate immune system of human cells interacts with trypanosomes, the parasites responsible for African sleeping sickness. The team was able to watch the trypanosomes as they moved through the cytoplasm of human cells, and observe the cells’ response to them. They found that the immune system is able to recognize and target these parasites, providing new insight into how the body defends itself against infection. This new research could lead to better treatments for diseases caused by trypanosomes.
source: Phys.org