Problems in the comparative physiology of some trypanosomatid flagellates.

There is considerable evidence that trypanosomatid species vary in their metabolic characteristics, that they vary in the mechanisms by which they control these characteristics, and that a single species may vary metabolically without varying structurally. Studies to date from a number of laboratories also indicate there is still reason to believe that metabolic characteristics of trypanosomatid flagellates, as manifest in culture, are at least correlated (in some cases) with the behavior of the flagellate species in the metazoan host. It appears that our major tasks for the next several years are 1. to discover the extent to which these correlations are manifestations of characteristics required for life in the metazoan host, 2. to discover the extent to which these correlations are manifestations of characteristics which determine infection site within the metazoan host, 3. to discover which if any metabolic control mechanisms contribute to the multiplicity of clinical infections often seen in this group of protozoa, and 4. to discover the critical links between energy metabolism, the control of that metabolism, and life inside a host or host cell.