Trypanosoma Brucei (T. Brucei) are pathogenic parasites that infect both humans and animals. The parasites enter and evade host systems, causing detrimental immune and neuropscyhaitric dysfunction. While our understanding on interaction between the parasites and hosts largely remains elusive, recent advances in microbiome research strongly suggests its crucial roles in regulation of immunity and host response to T. Brucei infection.

My research plan aims at identifying gut microbiome-associated metabolites regulating immune reactions, metabolic dysfunction and neurological damage of the host organism upon detrimental parasite T. Brucei infection. Fecal microbiome metabolomics will be conducted upon antibotics treatment to see if metabolites produced by gut microbiome could affect consequences of T. Brucei infection. By combining proteomics and transcriptomics analyses, the identified micriome metabolites and pathways will be thoroughly investigated. To further elaborate how microbiome metabolites differentially impact host metabolism failure by T. Brucei infection, unknown binding partner 
proteins will be identified using mass spectrometry-coupled high-throughput target engagement (ligand binding) assay. This study will significantly contribute to the development of precise biomarker and therapeutic intervention for T. Brucei infection.