diff --git a/tests/test_simple_api.py b/tests/test_simple_api.py
index 0af43c12..f817e19a 100644
--- a/tests/test_simple_api.py
+++ b/tests/test_simple_api.py
@@ -2,10 +2,12 @@
 from cryptography.exceptions import InvalidTag
 from cryptography.hazmat.primitives.asymmetric import ec
 
-from umbral import pre, keys
+from umbral import pre
+from umbral.fragments import KFrag, CapsuleFrag
 from umbral.config import default_curve
 from umbral.params import UmbralParameters
 from umbral.signing import Signer
+from umbral.keys import UmbralPrivateKey, UmbralPublicKey
 from .conftest import parameters
 
 secp_curves = [
@@ -20,14 +22,14 @@ def test_simple_api(N, M, curve=default_curve()):
 
     params = UmbralParameters(curve=curve)
 
-    delegating_privkey = keys.UmbralPrivateKey.gen_key(params=params)
+    delegating_privkey = UmbralPrivateKey.gen_key(params=params)
     delegating_pubkey = delegating_privkey.get_pubkey()
 
-    signing_privkey = keys.UmbralPrivateKey.gen_key(params=params)
+    signing_privkey = UmbralPrivateKey.gen_key(params=params)
     signing_pubkey = signing_privkey.get_pubkey()
     signer = Signer(signing_privkey)
 
-    receiving_privkey = keys.UmbralPrivateKey.gen_key(params=params)
+    receiving_privkey = UmbralPrivateKey.gen_key(params=params)
     receiving_pubkey = receiving_privkey.get_pubkey()
 
     plain_data = b'peace at dawn'
@@ -57,6 +59,122 @@ def test_simple_api_on_multiple_curves(N, M, curve):
     test_simple_api(N, M, curve)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("N, M", parameters)
+def test_lifecycle_with_serialization(N, M, curve=default_curve()):
+    """
+    This test is a variant of test_simple_api, but with intermediate 
+    serialization/deserialization steps, modeling how pyUmbral artifacts 
+    (such as keys, ciphertexts, etc) will actually be used. 
+    These intermediate steps are in between the different 'usage domains' 
+    in NuCypher, namely, key generation, delegation, encryption, decryption by 
+    Alice, re-encryption by Ursula, and decryption by Bob. 
+
+    Manually injects UmbralParameters for multi-curve testing.
+    """
+
+    # Convenience method to avoid replicating key generation code
+    def new_keypair_bytes():
+        privkey = UmbralPrivateKey.gen_key(params=params)
+        return bytes(privkey), bytes(privkey.get_pubkey())
+
+    ## SETUP
+    params = UmbralParameters(curve=curve)
+
+    delegating_privkey_bytes, delegating_pubkey_bytes = new_keypair_bytes()
+    signing_privkey_bytes, signing_pubkey_bytes = new_keypair_bytes()
+    receiving_privkey_bytes, receiving_pubkey_bytes = new_keypair_bytes()
+
+    ## DELEGATION DOMAIN:
+    ## Alice delegates decryption rights to some Bob by generating a set of 
+    ## KFrags, using her delegating private key and Bob's receiving public key
+
+    delegating_privkey = UmbralPrivateKey.from_bytes(delegating_privkey_bytes, params)
+    signing_privkey = UmbralPrivateKey.from_bytes(signing_privkey_bytes, params)
+    receiving_pubkey = UmbralPublicKey.from_bytes(receiving_pubkey_bytes, params)
+
+    signer = Signer(signing_privkey)
+    kfrags = pre.split_rekey(delegating_privkey, signer, receiving_pubkey, M, N)
+    kfrags_bytes = tuple(map(bytes, kfrags))
+
+    del kfrags
+    del signer
+    del delegating_privkey
+    del signing_privkey
+    del receiving_pubkey
+    del params
+
+    ## ENCRYPTION DOMAIN ##
+
+    params = UmbralParameters(curve=curve)
+
+    delegating_pubkey = UmbralPublicKey.from_bytes(delegating_pubkey_bytes, params)
+
+    plain_data = b'peace at dawn'
+    ciphertext, capsule = pre.encrypt(delegating_pubkey, plain_data)
+    capsule_bytes = bytes(capsule)
+    
+    del capsule
+    del delegating_pubkey
+    del params
+
+    ## DECRYPTION BY ALICE ##
+
+    params = UmbralParameters(curve=curve)
+
+    delegating_privkey = UmbralPrivateKey.from_bytes(delegating_privkey_bytes, params)
+    capsule = pre.Capsule.from_bytes(capsule_bytes, params)
+    cleartext = pre.decrypt(ciphertext, capsule, delegating_privkey)
+    assert cleartext == plain_data
+
+    del delegating_privkey
+    del capsule
+    del params
+
+    ## RE-ENCRYPTION DOMAIN (i.e., Ursula's side)
+
+    cfrags_bytes = list()
+    for kfrag_bytes in kfrags_bytes:
+        params = UmbralParameters(curve=curve)
+        capsule = pre.Capsule.from_bytes(capsule_bytes, params)
+        # TODO: use params instead of curve?
+        kfrag = KFrag.from_bytes(kfrag_bytes, params.curve)
+
+        cfrag_bytes = bytes(pre.reencrypt(kfrag, capsule))
+        cfrags_bytes.append(cfrag_bytes)
+
+        del capsule
+        del kfrag
+        del params
+
+    ## DECRYPTION DOMAIN (i.e., Bob's side)
+    params = UmbralParameters(curve=curve)
+
+    capsule = pre.Capsule.from_bytes(capsule_bytes, params)
+    delegating_pubkey = UmbralPublicKey.from_bytes(delegating_pubkey_bytes, params)
+    signing_pubkey = UmbralPublicKey.from_bytes(signing_pubkey_bytes, params)
+    receiving_privkey = UmbralPrivateKey.from_bytes(receiving_privkey_bytes, params)
+    receiving_pubkey = receiving_privkey.get_pubkey()
+
+    capsule.set_correctness_keys(delegating=delegating_pubkey,
+                                 receiving=receiving_pubkey,
+                                 verifying=signing_pubkey)
+
+    for cfrag_bytes in cfrags_bytes:
+        # TODO: use params instead of curve?
+        cfrag = CapsuleFrag.from_bytes(cfrag_bytes, params.curve)
+        capsule.attach_cfrag(cfrag)
+
+    reenc_cleartext = pre.decrypt(ciphertext, capsule, receiving_privkey,
+                                  delegating_pubkey, signing_pubkey)
+    assert reenc_cleartext == plain_data
+
+@pytest.mark.skip(reason="several bugs with multi-curve support")
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("curve", secp_curves)
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("N, M", parameters)
+def test_lifecycle_with_serialization_on_multiple_curves(N, M, curve):
+    test_lifecycle_with_serialization(N, M, curve)
+
+
 def test_public_key_encryption(alices_keys):
     delegating_privkey, _ = alices_keys
     plain_data = b'peace at dawn'