Bacteria use nanobodies to conquer sleeping sickness

Sleeping sickness, caused by the trypanosome Trypanosoma brucei, is transmitted to humans (and animals) via the bite of the tsetse fly. New research uses a bacteria, which naturally lives in the fly, to release nanobodies (antibody fragments) against the trypanosome. The antibodies, which bind to the surface of the parasite, are the first stage in producing targeted nanobodies to kill, or block, trypanosome development. The bacterium (Sodalis glossinidius) is similar to the 'good bacteria' which populate human intestines and is found in tsetse fly gut, muscle, fat and salivary glands. They are passed from a mother to her offspring -- consequently genetically modified bacteria should be spread down generations of flies once females are released into the wild. Researchers from Belgium genetically altered S. glossinidius bacteria so that they secreted an antibody against T. brucei. The growth of the mutated bacteria was unaltered, increasing their chances of survival once released.