The mRNA cap methyltransferase gene is essential for in vivo survival of T. brucei bloodstream form. TbCGM1 knockout

We analysed the growth phenotype of bloodstream T. brucei cells with and without the knockout of the TbCGM1 gene. We could show that the TbCGM1 gene is dispensable for the in-vitro growth of the parasite and we provided evidence for a decrease parasitemia in mice infected with a TbCGM1 knock-out cell line. We showed with the use of RNA-Seq technology that several cysteine peptidase genes are downregulated in TbCGM1 knockout cells lines. Finally, We demonstrated the downregulation of the Cathepsin-L at the protein level in the TbCGM1 knok-out cells. Taken together, our data suggest a contribution of TbCMT1 to the virulence of the T. brucei bloodstream form during the mammalian infection.