Pharmacological Inhibition of the Vacuolar ATPase in Bloodstream-Form Trypanosoma brucei Rescues Genetic Knockdown of Mitochondrial Gene Expression

Trypanosomatid parasites cause diseases in humans and livestock. It was reported that partial inhibition of the vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase) affects the dependence of Trypanosoma brucei on its mitochondrial genome (kinetoplast DNA [kDNA]), a target of the antitrypanosomatid drug isometamidium. Here, we report that V-ATPase inhibition with bafilomycin A1 (BafA) provides partial resistance to genetic knockdown of mitochondrial gene expression. BafA does not promote long-term survival after kDNA loss, but in its presence, isometamidium causes less damage to kDNA.