E. M. Briggs

Immunoprecipitation of RNA-DNA hybrid interacting proteins in Trypanosoma brucei reveals conserved and novel activities, including in host immune evasion by antigenic variation

The paper identifies 602 RNA-DNA hybrid interactors in Trypanosoma brucei using immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry, revealing conserved and novel functions in DNA repair and immune evasion.

RAD51-mediated R-loop formation acts to repair transcription-associated DNA breaks driving antigenic variation in Trypanosoma brucei

This study shows RAD51 interacts with RNA-DNA hybrids and repairs DNA breaks at the transcribed VSG in T. brucei, linking RNA-DNA hybrids to antigenic variation.

When is a slender not a slender? The cell-cycle arrest and scarcity of slender parasites challenges the role of bloodstream trypanosomes in infection maintenance

This study shows that Trypanosoma brucei cell-cycle arrest is irreversible and that proliferating parasites are rare in established infections, suggesting bloodstream forms are adapted for transmission rather than infection maintenance.

Profiling the bloodstream form and procyclic form Trypanosoma brucei cell cycle using single cell transcriptomics

This study uses single-cell transcriptomics to profile cell cycle dynamics in two forms of Trypanosoma brucei, identifying conserved and form-specific gene expression patterns.

Integrative single cell and spatial transcriptomic analysis reveal reciprocal microglia - plasma cell crosstalk in the mouse brain during chronic Trypanosoma brucei infection

This study uses single cell and spatial transcriptomics to identify microglia-plasma cell interactions in the mouse brain during chronic T. brucei infection.

Widespread roles of Trypanosoma brucei ATR in nuclear genome function and transmission are linked to R-loops

This study shows that ATR in Trypanosoma brucei is involved in genome maintenance, R-loop regulation, and chromosome segregation, despite DNA damage and continued cell division after ATR depletion.

A Pan-respiratory Antiviral Chemotype Targeting a Host Multiprotein Complex

The paper identifies a novel antiviral chemotype effective against multiple respiratory viruses by targeting a host multi-protein complex involved in viral lifecycle and innate immunity.

Single cell transcriptomic analysis of bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei reconstructs cell cycle progression and differentiation via quorum sensing

This study uses scRNA-seq to analyze differentiation in Trypanosoma brucei, identifying gene expression patterns and regulators during cell cycle progression and quorum sensing.

LINE-1 ORF1p RIP-seq reveals widespread association with p-body enriched mRNAs

The paper uses RIP-seq and L1EM analysis to show ORF1p binds non-LINE-1 mRNAs and p-body enriched RNAs in prostate cancer cells, correlating with LINE-1 RNA levels in TCGA tumors.

Trypanosoma brucei ribonuclease H2A is an essential enzyme that resolves R-loops associated with transcription initiation and antigenic variation

This study shows that TbRH2A is essential for resolving R-loops and preventing DNA damage in T. brucei, with distinct roles in RNA Pol II and Pol I transcription.