Article
Immunology
Natalia Gil-Jaramillo, Amanda Pereira Rocha, Taina Raiol, Flavia Nader Motta, Cecilia Favali, Marcelo M. Brigido, Izabela M. D. Bastos, Jaime M. Santana
Summary: The study identified viral infection response as the most regulated pathway during the interaction between T. cruzi and human DCs, and also found up-regulation of other immune responses. Additionally, increased gene expression of alternative inflammasome sensors during T. cruzi infection was identified for the first time.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Ana Paula de Abreu, Hevillyn Fernanda Lucas da Silva, Marcella Paula Mansano Sarto, Giullia Ferreira Iunklaus, Joao Vitor Trovo, Nilma de Souza Fernandes, Ana Paula Margioto Teston, Max Jean de Ornelas Toledo
Summary: This study evaluated the interaction between two species of triatomine vectors and Trypanosoma cruzi strains in the Brazilian Amazon region. The results showed that both species were susceptible to the T. cruzi strains and the genetics and geographic origin of the parasite influenced susceptibility to infection and vector competence.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Marcus Vinicius Accetta Vianna, Matheus Ribeiro Avila, Pedro Henrique Scheidt Figueiredo, Vanessa Pereira Lima, Liliany Mara Silva Carvalho, Paulo Henrique da Cruz Ferreira, Lucas Frois Fernandes de Oliveira, Whesley Tanor Silva, Igor Lucas Geraldo Izalino de Almeida, Ana Cristina Rodrigues Lacerda, Vanessa Amaral Mendonca, Sanny Cristina de Castro Faria, Mauro Felippe Felix Mediano, Manoel Otavio da Costa Rocha, Henrique Silveira Costa
Summary: The end-tidal carbon dioxide at peak exercise (PETCO2 peak) has prognostic value in patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy (ChC). Reduced PETCO2 peak is an independent predictor of poor outcome in ChC patients.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Isis G. Montalvo-Ocotoxtle, Gustavo Rojas-Velasco, Olivia Rodriguez-Morales, Minerva Arce-Fonseca, Luis A. Baeza-Herrera, Arturo Arzate-Ramirez, Gabriela Melendez-Ramirez, Daniel Manzur-Sandoval, Mayra L. Lara-Romero, Antonio Reyes-Ortega, Patricia Espinosa-Gonzalez, Erika Palacios-Rosas
Summary: Chagas cardiomyopathy, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is a significant cardiovascular disease with high morbidity and mortality rates in developing countries. It is considered a Neglected Tropical Disease by the World Health Organization, and early detection and treatment is crucial in both endemic and non-endemic regions. This review provides an overview of the current incidence and prevalence of Chagas disease, as well as the main pathogenic mechanisms, clinical presentation, and diagnosis of Chagas cardiomyopathy.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Clara Salles Figueiredo, Rodrigo Morel Vieira de Melo, Taina Teixeira Viana, Aline Grimaldi Queiroz de Jesus, Tainara Cerqueira da Silva, Vitor Mamedio da Silva, William Neves de Carvalho, Daniela Nascimento Valame da Silva, Luiz Carlos Santana Passos
Summary: A study in Brazil evaluated a case series of Chagas heart disease patients using sacubitril/valsartan, finding symptomatic improvement after 6 months but no changes in ventricular remodelling, with high mortality and hospitalization rates. These results highlight the importance of studying the effectiveness of sacubitril/valsartan in Chagas heart disease to better understand its impact on these individuals.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Lyda Z. Rojas, Sergio Alejandro Gomez-Ochao, Luis E. Echeverria, Paula Katherine Bautista-Nino, Lukas Hunziker, Michele F. Eisenga, Taulant Muka
Summary: This study aimed to analyze the association of circulating dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) levels with cardiovascular outcomes in patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCM). The results showed that higher DHEA-S levels were associated with lower mortality, heart transplantation, and LVAD implantation. Further larger studies are needed to confirm the results and assess causality.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Aline Tatila-Ferreira, Gabriela A. Garcia, Lilha M. B. dos Santos, Marcio G. Pavan, Carlos Jose de C. Moreira, Juliana C. Victoriano, Renato da Silva-Junior, Jacenir R. dos Santos-Mallet, Thaiane Verly, Constanca Britto, Maggy T. Sikulu-Lord, Rafael Maciel-de-Freitas
Summary: This study evaluated the use of Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) for rapid and accurate detection of T. cruzi infection in Triatoma infestans. NIRS was 100% accurate in predicting infection in different body parts and excreta samples. However, models developed using dry excreta could not predict infection in wet samples and vice versa.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Victor Sarli Issa, Silvia Moreira Ayub-Ferreira, Matthew Schroyens, Paulo Roberto Chizzola, Paulo Rogerio Soares, Silvia Helena Gelas Lage, Edimar Alcides Bocchi
Summary: This study aimed to analyze the clinical presentation and prognosis of patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy and decompensated heart failure, comparing with other causes. The study found that patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy presented distinct clinical features and had a worse prognosis compared with patients of other etiologies.
Article
Microbiology
Amanda Fortes Francisco, Giovane R. Sousa, Mhairi Vaughan, Harry Langston, Archie Khan, Shiromani Jayawardhana, Martin C. Taylor, Michael D. Lewis, John M. Kelly
Summary: This study demonstrates the potential of the C3H/HeN:JR host:parasite combination as an experimental model for Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC). The model exhibited cardiac abnormalities and inflammation, and could be used for screening new compounds and drugs to prevent or alleviate CCC development.
Review
Immunology
Eduardo G. Bruneto, Miguel M. Fernandes-Silva, Cristina Toledo-Cornell, Silvia Martins, Joao M. B. Ferreira, Valeria R. Correa, Joicely M. da Costa, Ana Yece das N. Pinto, Dilma do S. M. de Souza, Maria Carmelinda G. Pinto, Jose Albuquerque de F Neto, Alberto N. Ramos, James H. Maguire, Odilson M. Silvestre
Summary: Orally-transmitted acute Chagas disease is emerging as a significant public health problem, with considerable lethality in the first year after infection but a declining mortality rate over the years. Symptomatic cases have a similar lethality rate to those from other routes of infection.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ezio R. A. de Sa, Janilson L. Souza, Rayla K. M. Costa, Romulo O. Barros, Carlos E. B. de Lima, Francisco das C. A. Lima, Ricardo M. Ramos
Summary: This study investigated the potential inhibitory activity of alkaloids from Pilocarpus microphyllus leaves against Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan responsible for Chagas disease. Computational methods were used to analyze the physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic properties of these alkaloids. The results suggested that isopilosine could be a potential drug candidate for Chagas disease. The findings contribute to the search for new treatments for this neglected tropical disease.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Dhanya Dhanyalayam, Hariprasad Thangavel, Kezia Lizardo, Neelam Oswal, Enriko Dolgov, David S. Perlin, Jyothi F. Nagajyothi
Summary: This study investigated the interaction between COVID-19 and Chagas disease, and found that coinfected mice had lower viral load in their hearts. The study also revealed the impact of COVID-19 infection on cardiac immune and energy signaling, as well as the significant role of cardiac metabolic signaling in coinfected mice.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Pedro E. Fleitas, Noelia Floridia-Yapur, Elvia E. Nieves, Adriana Echazu, Paola A. Vargas, Nicolas R. Caro, Ramiro Aveldano, Walter Lopez, Mariana Fernandez, Favio Crudo, Ruben O. Cimino, Alejandro J. Krolewiecki
Summary: This study evaluates the association between S. stercoralis and T. cruzi infections in villages with diverse prevalence levels for these parasites. The findings provide insights into the relationship between these neglected tropical diseases in South America and highlight the importance of integrated control measures and potential biologic interactions.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Gabriela Maira Pereira de Assis, Micheline Freire Donato, Matheus Marques Milagre, Samantha Ribeiro Bela, Mayra Fernanda Ricci, Luara Augusta Batista, Maria Elena de Lima, Fabricio de Araujo Moreira, Rosa Maria Esteves Arantes, Marta de Lana
Summary: The study found that the nervous form of Chagas disease is associated with brain lesions and behavioral changes, which are affected by the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) activation or blockade. Blocking the mAChR was found to promote infection evolution and brain damage, while activation helped maintain brain tissue integrity.
Article
Immunology
Roy G. Stone, Patrick Gavin, Peter Chiodini, Debbie Nolder, Padraig McGettrick, Anna Keogh, Noel Mc Entagart, Richard Drew, Jack Lambert, Wendy Ferguson
Summary: This article discusses the observation of Chagas disease outside of Latin America and describes the first two infants with congenital Chagas Disease (cCD) in Ireland. It highlights the need for clinicians in non-endemic countries to be aware of the potential risk of cCD due to migration from high-prevalence countries.
PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Monica C. Campos, Jody Phelan, Amanda F. Francisco, Martin C. Taylor, Michael D. Lewis, Arnab Pain, Taane G. Clark, John M. Kelly
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2017)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Lorna M. MacLean, John Thomas, Michael D. Lewis, Ignacio Cotillo, David W. Gray, Manu De Rycker
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2018)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Fernanda Cristina Costa, Amanda Fortes Francisco, Shiromani Jayawardhana, Simone Guedes Calderano, Michael D. Lewis, Francisco Olmo, Tom Beneke, Eva Gluenz, Jack Sunter, Samuel Dean, John Morrison Kelly, Martin Craig Taylor
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2018)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
K. Hennig, J. Abi-Ghanem, A. Bunescu, X. Meniche, E. Biliaut, A. D. Ouattara, M. D. Lewis, J. M. Kelly, S. Braillard, G. Courtemanche, E. Chatelain, F. Bequet
Article
Infectious Diseases
Martin C. Taylor, Alexander Ward, Francisco Olmo, Shiromani Jayawardhana, Amanda F. Francisco, Michael D. Lewis, John M. Kelly
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2020)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amanda F. Francisco, Shiromani Jayawardhana, Francisco Olmo, Michael D. Lewis, Shane R. Wilkinson, Martin C. Taylor, John M. Kelly
Review
Immunology
Damian Perez-Mazliah, Alexander I. Ward, Michael D. Lewis
Summary: Trypanosoma cruzi is a versatile parasite that can parasitize almost any nucleated cell type and naturally infects a variety of mammal species, causing Chagas disease. While a large number of people are infected, around two thirds of them remain long-term asymptomatic carriers. Clinical outcomes of chronic infections depend on the interactions between host and parasite.
PARASITE IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Martin C. Taylor, Alexander Ward, Francisco Olmo, Amanda F. Francisco, Shiromani Jayawardhana, Fernanda C. Costa, Michael D. Lewis, John M. Kelly
Summary: Chagas disease is caused by infection with the trypanosomatid parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Challenges in developing new drugs have been posed by the long term and complex nature of the condition and limited understanding of parasite biology. The development of noninvasive, highly sensitive bioluminescence imaging procedures based on red-shifted luciferase-expressing parasites has greatly improved infection monitoring and driven drug development.
CURRENT PHARMACEUTICAL DESIGN
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Philipp Schwabl, Jalil Maiguashca Sanchez, Jaime A. Costales, Sofia Ocana-Mayorga, Maikell Segovia, Hernan J. Carrasco, Carolina Hernandez, Juan David Ramirez, Michael D. Lewis, Mario J. Grijalva, Martin S. Llewellyn
Article
Immunology
Carlos Talavera-Lopez, Louisa A. Messenger, Michael D. Lewis, Matthew Yeo, Joao Luis Reis-Cunha, Gabriel Machado Matos, Daniella C. Bartholomeu, Jose E. Calzada, Azael Saldana, Juan David Ramirez, Felipe Guhl, Sofia Ocana-Mayorga, Jaime A. Costales, Rodion Gorchakov, Kathryn Jones, Melissa S. Nolan, Santuza M. R. Teixeira, Hernan Jose Carrasco, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Peter J. Hotez, Kristy O. Murray, Mario J. Grijalva, Barbara Burleigh, Edmundo C. Grisard, Michael A. Miles, Bjorn Andersson
Summary: Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, has a complex and highly plastic genome, with surface molecules playing key roles in cell invasion, immune evasion, and pathogenesis. The genome assembly of the reference genome sequence for T. cruzi clade I has shed light on the unusual distribution and recombination mechanism of surface molecule genes, providing new insights into the population structure of T. cruzi.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Archie A. Khan, Harry C. Langston, Fernanda C. Costa, Francisco Olmo, Martin C. Taylor, Conor J. McCann, John M. Kelly, Michael D. Lewis
Summary: The study identified specific combinations of parasites and mice models that mimic symptoms of digestive Chagas disease in humans, particularly in the colon. By using genetically modified parasites, the research was able to track infection foci and nerve system lesions, highlighting the potential role of chronic infection and inflammation in the development of the disease.
Article
Immunology
Alexander Ward, Michael D. Lewis, Martin C. Taylor, John M. Kelly
Summary: This study systematically analyzed the immunological microenvironments of parasitized cells in the mouse colon and found that incomplete recruitment of T cells to colonic infection foci allows the occurrence of repeated cycles of parasite replication and differentiation, leading to chronic infections.
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Gabriel Machado Matos, Michael D. Lewis, Carlos Talavera-Lopez, Matthew Yeo, Edmundo C. Grisard, Louisa A. Messenger, Michael Miles, Bjorn Andersson
Summary: The presence of genetic exchange in Trypanosoma cruzi has been controversial. Field studies and laboratory experiments have shown the existence of hybrids and hybrid progeny. Hybrid formation initially results in tetraploid parasites, but the progeny genomes gradually erode towards triploidy. However, elevated copy number is observed at several core housekeeping loci, indicating potential for adaptive evolution.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mahbobeh Lesani, Camil Gosmanov, Andrea Paun, Michael D. Lewis, Laura-Isobel Mccall
Summary: This study identified metabolites commonly impacted by Leishmania donovani infection across organs, including glycerophospholipids, ceramides, acylcarnitines, peptides, purines and amino acids. The comparison showed a greater overlap of perturbed metabolites between spleen and liver, in accordance with VL symptoms and parasite tropism.
Article
Cell Biology
Isabelle Louradour, Carolina Cunha Monteiro, Ehud Inbar, Kashinath Ghosh, Richard Merkhofer, Phillip Lawyer, Andrea Paun, Margery Smelkinson, Nagila Secundino, Michael Lewis, Dinesh Erram, Ludek Zurek, David Sacks
CELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2017)