The trypanosomatid Angomonas deanei contains a b-proteobacterial endosymbiont. Cell cycles of host and symbiont are strictly synchronised, host effector proteins are targeted to the symbiont, and the symbiont is tightly associated with host glycosomes.

We aims (i) to elucidate the role of the symbiont/glycosome association for integration of host/symbiont metabolic networks; (ii) to engineer a synthetic endosymbiosis between the natural A. deanei symbionts or genetically modified cyanobacteria, and mammalian cells; and (iii) to use the synthetic system to study elements of host/symbiont interaction such as protein targeting and host control over symbiont division.