African trypanosomes in the 21st century: what is their future in science and in health?

The African trypanosomes remain well recognised for their role as an intere sting model eukaryote for basic science, but are loosing ground in their ab ility to contribute to understanding common cellular mechanisms. At the sam e time, the diseases they cause remain as prevalent as ever, but appear inc reasingly irrelevant in their wider medical, social, economic and political context. What can be done to keep trypanosome biology relevant and vigorou s in the 21st century? (C) 2001 Australian Society for Parasitology Inc. Pu blished by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.