Immunobiology of African Trypanosomiasis: New Paradigms, Newer Questions

The immunology of African trypanosomiasis is reviewed and reexamined in light of newer findings over the past decade. New paradigms of host resistance include information that the variant surface glycoprotein specific Ab response is not linked, alone, to overall resistance, and that Th1 cells, IFN-γ and macrophages play a powerful role in providing tissue-specific protection against trypanosomes. New questions concerning the specific role of “antigen pattern” recognition of the VSG coat by B cells, and the potentially interesting role of the trypanosome T lymphocyte triggering factor (TLTF), are addressed. Overall this chapter is aimed at providing the reader with new perspectives on the immunobiology of African sleeping sickness.