TY - JOUR
T1 - The silicon trypanosome
AU - Bakker, B.M.
AU - Krauth-Siegel, R.L.
AU - Clayton, C.
AU - Matthews, K.
AU - Girolami, M.
AU - Westerhoff, H.V.
AU - Michels, P.A.M.
AU - Breitling, R.
AU - Barrett, M.P.
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - African trypanosomes have emerged as promising unicellular model organisms for the next generation of systems biology. They offer unique advantages, due to their relative simplicity, the availability of all standard genomics techniques and a long history of quantitative research. Reproducible cultivation methods exist for morphologically and physiologically distinct life-cycle stages. The genome has been sequenced, and microarrays, RNA-interference and high-accuracy metabolomics are available. Furthermore, the availability of extensive kinetic data on all glycolytic enzymes has led to the early development of a complete, experiment-based dynamic model of an important biochemical pathway. Here we describe the achievements of trypanosome systems biology so far and outline the necessary steps towards the ambitious aim of creating a Silicon Trypanosome, a comprehensive, experiment-based, multi-scale mathematical model of trypanosome physiology. We expect that, in the long run, the quantitative modelling enabled by the Silicon Trypanosome will play a key role in selecting the most suitable targets for developing new anti-parasite drugs. Copyright © 2010 Cambridge University Press.
AB - African trypanosomes have emerged as promising unicellular model organisms for the next generation of systems biology. They offer unique advantages, due to their relative simplicity, the availability of all standard genomics techniques and a long history of quantitative research. Reproducible cultivation methods exist for morphologically and physiologically distinct life-cycle stages. The genome has been sequenced, and microarrays, RNA-interference and high-accuracy metabolomics are available. Furthermore, the availability of extensive kinetic data on all glycolytic enzymes has led to the early development of a complete, experiment-based dynamic model of an important biochemical pathway. Here we describe the achievements of trypanosome systems biology so far and outline the necessary steps towards the ambitious aim of creating a Silicon Trypanosome, a comprehensive, experiment-based, multi-scale mathematical model of trypanosome physiology. We expect that, in the long run, the quantitative modelling enabled by the Silicon Trypanosome will play a key role in selecting the most suitable targets for developing new anti-parasite drugs. Copyright © 2010 Cambridge University Press.
U2 - 10.1017/S0031182010000466
DO - 10.1017/S0031182010000466
M3 - Article
SN - 0031-1820
VL - 137
SP - 1333
EP - 1341
JO - Parasitology
JF - Parasitology
ER -
