biostudies-literatureCosta TFRIsaac Newton TrustNational Council for Scientific and Technological DevelopmentUK Research and InnovationFundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro656https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9820468biostudies-literatureUnknown24(1)The protozoan <i>Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense</i> causes Human African Trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, and penetrates the central nervous system, leading to meningoencephalitis. The Cathepsin L-like cysteine peptidase of <i>T. b. rhodesiense</i> has been implicated in parasite penetration of the blood-brain barrier and its activity is modulated by the chagasin-family endogenous inhibitor of cysteine peptidases (ICP). To investigate the role of ICP in <i>T. b. rhodesiense</i> bloodstream form, <i>ICP</i>-null (Δ<i>icp</i>) mutants were generated, and lines re-expressing <i>ICP</i> (Δ<i>icp:ICP</i>). Lysates of Δ<i>icp</i> displayed increased E-64-sensitive cysteine peptidase activity and the mutant parasites traversed human brain microvascular endothelial cell (HBMEC) moInternational journal of molecular sciences<i>Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense</i> Inhibitor of Cysteine Peptidase (ICP) Is Required for Virulence in Mice and to Attenuate the Inflammatory Response.PMC9820468311208/2017-7MR/N017269/1MR/P027989/1E26/202.655/2019Mottram JCCosta TFRLima APCAGoundry AMorrot AGrab DJfalse<i>Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense</i> Inhibitor of Cysteine Peptidase (ICP) Is Required for Virulence in Mice and to Attenuate the Inflammatory Response.The protozoan <i>Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense</i> causes Human African Trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, and penetrates the central nervous system, leading to meningoencephalitis. The Cathepsin L-like cysteine peptidase of <i>T. b. rhodesiense</i> has been implicated in parasite penetration of the blood-brain barrier and its activity is modulated by the chagasin-family endogenous inhibitor of cysteine peptidases (ICP). To investigate the role of ICP in <i>T. b. rhodesiense</i> bloodstream form, <i>ICP</i>-null (Δ<i>icp</i>) mutants were generated, and lines re-expressing <i>ICP</i> (Δ<i>icp:ICP</i>). Lysates of Δ<i>icp</i> displayed increased E-64-sensitive cysteine peptidase activity and the mutant parasites traversed human brain microvascular endothelial cell (HBMEC) mo2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Dec2025-04-21T16:21:27.446Z2025-04-21T16:21:27.446ZS-EPMC98204683661410110.3390/ijms24010656