Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Caroline Rodrigues Chaves dos Reis, Hellen Valerio Chaves Moura de Souza, Rennan Papaleo Paes Leme, Frederico Silva Castelo-Branco, Tacio Vinicio Amorim Fernandes, Nubia Boechat, Luiza Rosaria Sousa Dias, Lucas Villas oas Hoelz
Summary: This study investigates the molecular mechanism of benzimidazole compounds as cruzain inhibitors through molecular docking and dynamics simulations. The results suggest that these inhibitors bind to cruzain through steric and hydrogen bonding interactions without altering its structure and compactness.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lenci K. Vazquez-Jimenez, Alfredo Juarez-Saldivar, Rogelio Gomez-Escobedo, Timoteo Delgado-Maldonado, Domingo Mendez-Alvarez, Isidro Palos, Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Carlos Gaona-Lopez, Eyra Ortiz-Perez, Benjamin Nogueda-Torres, Esther Ramirez-Moreno, Gildardo Rivera
Summary: In this study, a ligand-based virtual screening was performed to identify potential TcTIM inhibitors. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation analysis showed a favorable docking score of the BP5 compound on TcTIM, and a lower docking score on human TIM compared to the control ligand. Both BP2 and BP5 compounds exhibited good physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties as new anti-T. cruzi agents.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Parasitology
Natalia Erdens Maron Freitas, Fernanda Lopes Habib, Emily Ferreira Santos, Angelo Antonio Oliveira Silva, Natalia Dantas Fontes, Leonardo Maia Leony, Daniel Dias Sampaio, Marcio Cerqueira de Almeida, Filipe Dantas-Torres, Fred Luciano Neves Santos
Summary: This article reviews the technological advances in serological diagnosis of Chagas disease in dogs and cats. Dogs and cats are considered important for the maintenance of domestic transmission cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. However, there are no commercial tests available to detect past or active infections in these animals. The use of chimeric recombinant T. cruzi antigens may improve the diagnosis of chronic Chagas disease in dogs and cats.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Zeinab Parsons, Shadi Banitaan
Summary: This research focuses on the automatic identification of Chagas Disease (CD) and proposes four different automated CD vector identification approaches. By utilizing data mining-based methods and convolutional neural networks, the proposed approaches achieved high accuracy rates in classifying kissing bugs. By achieving 100% accuracy rates for the most common dataset of kissing bugs, this study takes a significant step towards overcoming this fatal disease.
ECOLOGICAL INFORMATICS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Emily A. Kelly, Christina A. Bulman, Emma L. Gunderson, Amanda M. Irish, Rebecca L. Townsend, Judy A. Sakanari, Susan L. Stramer, Caryn Bern, Jeffrey D. Whitman
Summary: The latest-generation CD serology tests may improve diagnostic sensitivity without affecting specificity. Reactivity and sensitivity were highest in samples from donors born in South America and lowest in specimens from those born in Mexico, with intermediate results in specimens from Central American donors.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ruben Martin-Escolano, Daniel Molina-Carreno, Javier Martin-Escolano, M. Paz Clares, Cristina Galiana-Rosello, Jorge Gonzalez-Garcia, Nuria Cirauqui, Jose M. Llinares, Maria Jose Rosales, Enrique Garcia-Espana, Clotilde Marin
Summary: Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is a potentially fatal infection that was previously limited to Latin America but has now become widespread globally. This study identified new effective agents against T. cruzi and evaluated their efficacy in vivo. Compound 15 was identified as a potential candidate for the development of new therapies for Chagas disease.
Article
Entomology
Nadia A. Fernandez-Santos, Josefina C. Trujillo-Garcia, Sarah A. Hamer, Lihua Wei, Humberto Martinez-Montoya, Patricia Tamez-Guerra, Gabriel L. Hamer, Mario A. Rodriguez-Perez
Summary: This study provides entomological and parasitological data on triatomine vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi in a highly endemic region of Mexico. The morphological and molecular identification of four principal domestic species was conducted, and their presence in Oaxaca was documented. The study highlights the importance of accurate identification and understanding of the behavior and infection rates of these triatomines for vector control programs.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marilia L. Cirqueira, Leandro O. Bortot, Mayte Bolean, Mariana A. A. Aleixo, Pedro H. Luccas, Antonio J. Costa-Filho, Ana Paula Ramos, Pietro Ciancaglini, M. Cristina Nonato
Summary: Due to its severe burden and geographic distribution, Chagas disease has a significant social and economic impact on low-income countries. This study aims to understand the role of TcNTR in the basic parasite biology, investigate its potential as a drug target, and contribute to the fight against neglected tropical diseases. The results showed that TcNTR interacts with membranes, with a preference for those containing cardiolipin, and a 23-residue long insertion is involved in enzyme specificity and protein-membrane interaction.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
A. Abras, C. Ballart, A. Fernandez-Arevalo, T. Llovet, M. Gallego, C. Munoz
Summary: The study evaluated two algorithms for the diagnosis of chronic and congenital Chagas disease, with CMIA showing potential as a single diagnostic test in non-endemic countries and the revised algorithm with the >= 6 S/CO proving to be an efficient method for chronic CD diagnosis. For infants with congenital infection, CMIA could potentially be used as a single test for screening at 10 months or earlier, but further research is needed.
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Roberto Docampo, Anibal Eugenio Vercesi
Summary: This review discusses the mechanisms of mitochondrial oxidant generation and removal, and the involvement of Ca2+ in trypanosome cell death, highlighting the need for further studies on ROS generation, defense mechanisms, and mitochondrial permeability transition pore in trypanosomatids.
ANTIOXIDANTS & REDOX SIGNALING
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Nieves Martinez-Peinado, Nuria Cortes-Serra, Julian Sherman, Ana Rodriguez, Juan M. Bustamante, Joaquim Gascon, Maria-Jesus Pinazo, Julio Alonso-Padilla
Summary: Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, has its greatest burden in Latin America. Existing treatments present toxicity and variable efficacy, highlighting the urgent need for new therapeutic strategies. Drug repositioning offers a fast and low-cost approach to identify safer and more effective chemotherapies for Chagas disease.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Naiara Dutra Barroso Gomes, Emanuel Paula Magalhaes, Lyanna Rodrigues Ribeiro, John Washington Cavalcante, Marcelo Morais Gomes Maia, Felipe Ramon Cunha da Silva, Arif Ali, Marcia Machado Marinho, Emmanuel Silva Marinho, Helcio Silva dos Santos, Alice Maria Costa Martins, Ramon Roseo Paula Pessoa Bezerra de Menezes
Summary: This study evaluated the activity of synthetic p-aminochalcones against T. cruzi and found that they have a trypanocidal effect by causing membrane damage and oxidative stress. Their mechanism of action may be related to inhibition of cruzain and TR.
BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michael J. da Silva, Andrey P. Jacomini, Davana S. Goncalves, Karlos Eduardo Pianoski, Julia Poletto, Danielle Lazarin-Bidoia, Helito Volpato, Celso Nakamura, Fernanda A. Rosa
Summary: A novel tetrasubstituted pyrazole derivative was discovered to exhibit potent and selective inhibition against both L. amazonensis and T. cruzi, offering a new approach for the treatment of Chagas disease and Leishmaniasis.
BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Carezza Botto-Mahan, Juana P. Correa, Raul Araya-Donoso, Francisca Farias, Esteban San Juan, Nicol Quiroga, Ricardo Campos-Soto, Claudio Reyes-Olivares, Daniel Gonzalez-Acuna
Summary: In this study, we assessed 4 lizard species in Chile for Trypanosoma cruzi and found that all species were infected. We also discovered that one species had the ability to transmit the protozoan, highlighting their role as reservoirs for T. cruzi.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Claudia Lopez-Lira, Ricardo A. Tapia, Alejandra Herrera, Michel Lapier, Juan D. Maya, Jorge Soto-Delgado, Allen G. Oliver, A. Graham Lappin, Eugenio Uriarte
Summary: The design and synthesis of new 2-phenyl(pyridinyl)benzimidazolequinones and their 5-phenoxy derivatives demonstrate potent anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity. Compound 11a shows significantly higher activity compared to nifurtimox. Molecular docking studies suggest that these compounds could have a multitarget profile.
BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Matias Sebastian Mora, Federico Becerra, Aldo Ivan Vassallo
Article
Ecology
Samanta Waxman, Marcela Orozco, Hernan Argibay, Casilda Rodriguez, Pablo Otero
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH
(2018)
Article
Parasitology
Marta Victoria Cardinal, Paula Andrea Sartor, Maria Sol Gaspe, Gustavo Fabian Enriquez, Ivana Colaianni, Ricardo Esteban Gurtler
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2018)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Macchiaverna Natalia Paula, Enriquez Gustavo Fabian, Buscaglia Carlos Andres, Balouz Virginia, Gurtler Ricardo Esteban, Cardinal Marta Victoria
INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2018)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Maria Marcela Orozco, Danilo Bucafusco, Hernan Dario Argibay, Miguel Angel Rinas, Karen Elizabeth DeMatteo, Carina Francisca Arguelles, Ana Cristina Bratanich, Ricardo Esteban Gurtler
JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE
(2018)
Article
Parasitology
M. A. Laino, M. V. Cardinal, G. F. Enriquez, A. Alvedro, M. S. Gaspe, R. E. Gurtler
VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Maria de los Milagros Camara, Virginia Balouz, Camila Centeno Camean, Carmen R. Cori, Gustavo A. Kashiwagi, Santiago A. Gil, Natalia Paula Macchiaverna, Marta Victoria Cardinal, Francisco Guaimas, Maite Mabel Lobo, Rosa M. de Lederkremer, Carola Gallo-Rodriguez, Carlos A. Buscaglia
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2019)
Article
Ecology
Eliana C. Guillemi, M. Marcela Orozco, Hernan D. Argibay, Marisa D. Farber
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE
(2019)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Natalia P. Macchiaverna, Gustavo F. Enriquez, Jacqueline Bua, Maria P. Fernandez, Paula A. Sartor, Ricardo E. Gurtler, Marta Cardinal
INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2020)
Article
Parasitology
Gustavo Fabian Enriquez, Maria Carla Cecere, Julian Antonio Alvarado-Otegui, Alejandra Alvedro, Maria Sol Gaspe, Mariano Alberto Laino, Ricardo Esteban Gurtler, Marta Victoria Cardinal
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2020)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
M. Marcela Orozco, Hernan D. Argibay, Leonardo Minatel, Eliana C. Guillemi, Yanina Berra, Andrea Schapira, Dante Di Nucci, Andrea Marcos, Fernanda Lois, Martin Falzone, Marisa D. Farber
BMC VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Eliana Carolina Guillemi, Melody Imbert, Sofia de la Fourniere, Maria Marcela Orozco, Jorge Pena Martinez, Ana Carolina Rosas, Valeria Noely Montenegro, Marisa Diana Farber
Article
Infectious Diseases
Marta Victoria Cardinal, Gustavo Fabian Enriquez, Natalia Paula Macchiaverna, Hernan Dario Argibay, Maria del Pilar Fernandez, Alejandra Alvedro, Maria Sol Gaspe, Ricardo Esteban Guertler
Summary: The long-term insecticide-based intervention program in the Argentine Chaco region successfully reduced the seroprevalence of T. cruzi in children and decreased the incidence of new cases in humans. This study supports the interruption of vector-borne transmission of T. cruzi to humans in rural Pampa del Indio.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Gustavo Fabian Enriquez, Jacqueline Bua, Maria Marcela Orozco, Natalia Paula Macchiaverna, Julian Antonio Alvarado Otegui, Hernan Dario Argibay, Maria del Pilar Fernandez, Ricardo Esteban Gurtler, Marta Victoria Cardinal
Summary: The study found that the parasite load of Chagas disease in sylvatic mammals is directly associated with host infectiousness to the vector, and it is much higher compared to domestic hosts. The parasite load shows an aggregated distribution across host species, indicating the presence of highly infectious hosts that can be targeted for transmission control efforts.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
G. F. Enriquez, N. P. Macchiaverna, H. D. Argibay, Lopez Arias L, M. Farber, R. E. Guertler, M. Cardinal, G. Garbossa
VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS
(2019)