Given the lack of necessity of TbPARP for T. brucei viability, further study is warranted to fully understand the role of TbPARP in DNA repair; however, currently, it would seem that attention may be better focused on exploiting PARG enzymes to treat African trypanosomiasis, given the strong effect PARG depletion has on decreasing parasite viability. Here, PARG is linked to human African trypanosomiasis.