Faria Tryps Lab

Sequence and structure of protein binding sites in RNA impact biomolecular condensates https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.24.707737v1

Newest collaborative paper out now on biorxiv - new genome and VSG arrangements in T. congolense, excellent work by Marija!

In the words of @scotomorph.bsky.social T. congolense ≠ T. brucei www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

@rmc9z.bsky.social @keithrmatthews.bsky.social

@fariatrypslab.bsky.social in a major collaborative effort with researchers from Imperial College, Oxford, Oxford Brookes, and Edinburgh, has identified a novel factor, ESBX, as the key coordinator between the activation and repression of surface antigen genes in trypanosomes.

Scientists reveal how sleeping sickness parasites control their surface coat Researchers have revealed how parasites hide thousands of antigens behind a single-colour coat and how disrupting this control could make the parasit...

New PNAS study identifies ESBX, a protein controlling which surface coat gene is active in sleeping sickness parasites - key to immune evasion.

@tiengwe-tryplab.bsky.social
@zephyris-science.bsky.social
@fariatrypslab.bsky.social

www.imperial.ac.uk/news/article...

Merci Philippe 😊

Nice multiple-team effort shedding some light on the intriguing expression site body (ESB), the key to antigenic variation in trypanosomes
@fariatrypslab.bsky.social @zephyris-science.bsky.social @tiengwe-tryplab.bsky.social with Jack Sunter and Keith Gull among others

A factor integrating transcription and repression of surface antigen genes in African trypanosomes pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41632842/

5/5 PS: More to come on the ever-growing ‘ESB molecular consortium’ and a new layer of post-transcriptional regulation through specialised RNA decay. Stay tuned for an update on our preprint!

A factor integrating transcription and repression of surface antigen genes in African trypanosomes | PNAS Antigenic variation in Trypanosoma brucei (T. brucei) requires monoallelic expression of one variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) from one of the sub...

4/5 Science is better together. We hope these insights into ESBX open new doors for understanding immune evasion and fundamental principles of gene regulation.
Full paper here: doi.org/10.1073/pnas...

3/5 After the loss of Prof. Gloria Rudenko @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social the UK scientific community stepped up. Guided by Prof. Keith Gull, multiple labs collaborated to cross the finish line. Pleasure to collaborate with Sunter, @zephyris-science.bsky.social & @tiengwe-tryplab.bsky.social Labs

2/5 Using trypanosomes as a model, we found that ESBX coordinates activation and repression of surface antigen genes. This "monoallelic expression" is a fundamental mystery in biology.

1/5 How do parasites "shape-shift" to evade our immune system? It’s all about gene selection. Our latest work in @pnas.org identifies a new key player: ESBX.
@york.ac.uk @ybri-uoy.bsky.social

RA: jobs.york.ac.uk/vacancy/tech...

PDRA: jobs.york.ac.uk/vacancy/post...

Great collaborators at University of Warwick and @ipmontevideo.bsky.social @carlos-robello.bsky.social Huge thanks to our funders BBSRC

We’re hiring a PDRA and a technician!
If you’re passionate about #parasites #genomes #condensates then this project is for you! Help us decode the role of nuclear architecture in gene expression regulation in #Leishmania alongside the @mottramlab.bsky.social @york.ac.uk @ybri-uoy.bsky.social

A phage protein screen identifies triggers of the bacterial innate immune system Nature Microbiology, Published online: 16 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41564-025-02239-6A library of 400 phage protein-coding genes is used to find a trove of antiphage systems, revealing systems that target tail fibre and major capsid proteins.

ICYMI Out Now! A phage protein screen identifies triggers of the bacterial innate immune system #MicroSky

Check out our latest study on the PfRIPR protein,
essential for the malaria parasite to get inside our blood cells. We show how antibodies block the function of PfRIPR by preventing its flexible hinges from bending, or by stopping it from compacting as part of its mechanism.

Sorting of GPI-anchored proteins at the trypanosome surface is independent of GPI insertion signals The segregation of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins (GPI-APs) to distinct domains on the plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells is importan…

If you assume GPI insertion signals = surface destination, trypanosomes disagree.

Tom’s work shows GPI-anchored protein sorting occurs independently of GPI insertion signals, hinting at alternative sorting logic at the parasite surface.

tinyurl.com/gpi-anchor
#MembraneBiology #CellSurface

CryoDDM: CryoEM denoising diffusion model for heterogeneous conformational reconstruction https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.10.693455v1

Why LLPS Scaffolds Cannot Exist – A Thermodynamic Thread

If you consider arguments logical, please share. Else please expose logical faults

🧵👇

Interested in pursuing a PhD by working on a long-neglected marine organism and making a lot of discoveries? Darwin Trust offers a PhD studentship for international students (anyone non-UK) www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

So excited to have Alex joining us!!

Very proud!

OptoLoop: An optogenetic tool to probe the functional role of genome organization https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.06.686574v1

PI3Kdelta-driven expansion of regulatory B cells impairs protective immune responses to Trypanosoma congolense parasite infection pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41191641/

Trypanosoma brucei cattle infections contain cryptic transmission-adapted bloodstream forms at low parasitaemia pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41193429/

Our November issue is out now:

www.nature.com/nmicrobiol/v...

Great collaborations with @carlos-robello.bsky.social Florencia Diaz-Viraque & Sam Dean @ipmontevideo.bsky.social & @warwickuniucu.bsky.social

Delighted to have been awarded a BBSRC grant to study the role of nuclear architecture in gene expression regulation in Leishmania alongside @mottramlab.bsky.social

@york.ac.uk

We will soon be recruiting, stay tuned!