b. brucei infections (20). Several synthetic AMPs have also been shown to be trypanolytic. These peptides are derived from the

active sites of known AMPs and presumably operate through the same mechanisms. An exception is the shortened analogue of the cell-penetrating peptide transportan, TP10 (42), which lyses BSF T. b. brucei at micromolar concentrations. Cell-penetrating peptides permeate plasma membranes and are thought to exert their toxic effect through inhibition of GTPases (43). A truncated form of bovine myeloid antimicrobial peptide-27 (BMAP-27), BMAP-18, is active against both developmental forms of African trypanosomes and shows reduced toxicity towards mammalian cells and the tsetse check details symbiont Sodalis (again suggesting a paratransgenic control strategy) relative to native BMAP-27 (44). Small synthetic peptides derived from insect defensins have also been shown to exhibit trypanocidal activity against BSF African trypanosomes and to a lesser selleck chemical degree the PC developmental forms (21,22). The different developmental forms of African trypanosomes exhibit unique physiologies. These physiological characteristics can contribute to immune evasion, but, as illustrated by the following examples, also sensitize the parasite to killing by AMPs

from unusual sources that operate through unconventional mechanisms. The features of many AMPs (amphipathic helices with regions of cationic residues) are also exhibited by a number of neuropeptides. These similarities led Delgado and colleagues to investigate many the potential trypanocidal activity of several neuropeptides (23). A variety of neuropeptides exhibit killing activity against BSF trypanosomes at low micromolar concentrations. Trypanosomes treated with these peptides become swollen, develop large cytoplasmic vacuoles and detached flagellum. Susceptibility

of BSF trypanosomes can be attributed to their robust rate of endocytosis. Fluorescently labelled peptides accumulate in endosomes and colocalize with the lysosomal marker p67 (23) (Figure 1). Procyclic trypanosomes, which exhibit a significantly reduced rate of endocytosis, do not internalize and are thus not killed by neuropeptides (23). Dissection of the endocytic trafficking pathway indicates that neuropeptides exert their cytotoxicity in the acidified lysosome. Inhibiting endocytosis by incubating cells at 4°C or allowing uptake but blocking endosomal trafficking to the lysosome at 17°C spares BSF trypanosomes from killing by neuropeptides. Neutralizing the lysosomal lumen with NH4Cl also inhibits killing, indicating that an acidic environment is necessary (23). Release of fluorescent dextrans from the lysosome indicates that the membrane has been compromised. Subsequent cellular events are characteristic of an autophagic cell death (23).