Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Natalia Lins da Silva-Gomes, Leonardo Alexandre de Souza Ruivo, Claudia Moreira, Marcelo Meuser-Batista, Cristiane Franca da Silva, Denise da Gama Jaen Batista, Stenio Fragoso, Gabriel Melo de Oliveira, Maria de Nazare Correia Soeiro, Otacilio C. Moreira
Summary: In this study, genetically modified strains of Trypanosoma cruzi were used to evaluate the role of NTPDases in parasite infectivity. The results showed that parasites overexpressing TcNTPDase-1 had higher infectivity, while hemi-knockout parasites had lower infectivity and no significant electrocardiographic changes. These findings highlight the potential of NTPDases as a therapeutic target for Chagas disease.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Vivian Paulino Figueiredo, Maria Claudia Silva, Debora Maria Soares de Souza, Diogenes Coelho Jr, Lais Roquete Lopes, Maira de Araujo Azevedo, Ana Paula de Jesus Menezes, Wanderson Geraldo de Lima, Maria do Carmo Gouveia Peluzio, Andre Talvani
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of different strains of T. cruzi infection on atherosclerotic lesions in aged ApoE-/- mice, and found that infection with the Col strain caused increased parasite growth and worsened aortic root lesions.
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2022)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Ryo Hotta, Ahmed Rahman, Sukhada Bhave, Rhian Stavely, Weikang Pan, Shriya Srinivasan, Geoffrey de Couto, Luis Rodriguez-Borlado, Richard Myers, Alan J. Burns, Allan M. Goldstein
Summary: This study demonstrates that transplanted enteric neuronal stem cells (ENSCs) can form effective neuromuscular connections and improve colonic motor function in a model of colonic dysmotility. Multiple injections of ENSCs led to an improved response, paving the way for optimized clinical trial design.
STEM CELL RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Tamires Marielem Carvalho-Costa, Rafael Destro Rosa Tiveron, Maria Tays Mendes, Cecilia Gomes Barbosa, Jessica Coraiola Nevoa, Guilherme Augusto Roza, Marcos Vinicius Silva, Henrique Cesar Pereira Figueiredo, Virmondes Rodrigues, Siomar de Castro Soares, Carlo Jose Freire Oliveira
Summary: The study found that Rhodnius neglectus may be a potential vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. The salivary glands and intestine play crucial roles during blood feeding. Infection with Trypanosoma cruzi significantly alters the physiology of these tissues, providing valuable insights for future research on parasite-vector interactions.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Maiara Bianchini Narde, Elisa Liz Belli Cassa Domingues, Karolina Ribeiro Goncalves, Mirelle Lomar Viana, Marcos Santos Zanini, Wanderson Geraldo de Lima, Maria Terezinha Bahia, Fabiane Matos dos Santos
Summary: Arginine has shown positive effects in the treatment of chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy, reducing parasitemia and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in T. cruzi-infected mice, and promoting collagenogenesis in heart tissue.
PARASITOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Hannah George, Grace Mercer, Darcie Stapleton, Laura Dawson, Phillip E. MacCallum, Shoshana Spring, John G. Sled, Jacqueline Blundell, Lindsay S. Cahill
Summary: The study found that eNOS deficiency has sex-specific effects on brain structure and function. Male mice lacking eNOS showed deficits in contextual fear memory retention compared to wild-type controls, while female mice did not. The study also identified changes in multiple brain regions involved in learning and fear memory, such as the hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, and cortex, as a result of eNOS deficiency. Some of these MRI-detectable neuroanatomical changes were dependent on sex.
BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Natalia Milduberger, Patricia L. Bustos, Carolina Gonzalez, Alina E. Perrone, Miriam Postan, Jacqueline Bua
Summary: Mice deficient in mitochondrial isoform Cyclophilin D (CyPD) infected with Trypanosoma cruzi parasites showed significantly lower parasite load in tissues, reduced percentage of infected cells, and fewer intracellular parasites. Lack of CyPD may play a role in mitigating parasite aggression and spread of cellular infection.
EXPERIMENTAL PARASITOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Derek J. Matthews, Ryan C. Fries, Nicholas D. Jeffery, Sarah A. Hamer, Ashley B. Saunders
Summary: Trypanosoma cruzi infection causes cardiac damage in dogs, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) can detect the damage. This study aimed to describe CMR in naturally infected dogs with chronic Chagas disease and evaluate the frequency of abnormalities in CMR and other diagnostic tests. The results suggest that CMR can provide useful information and support the use of naturally infected dogs as an animal model for Chagas disease.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
S. N. Mule, N. C. Manchola, G. S. de Oliveira, M. Pereira, R. D. M. Magalhaes, A. A. Teixeira, W. Colli, M. J. M. Alves, G. Palmisano
Summary: This study provides the first site-specific characterization of S-nitrosylated proteins in T. cruzi, showing a decrease in SNO proteins after incubation with the extracellular matrix before parasite invasion. It also identifies nitrosylation of H2B (Cys64) and H3 (Cys126) histones, suggesting sensitivity to NO signaling. Furthermore, proteins involved in translation, glycolytic pathway, and fatty acid metabolism are enriched in the dataset, indicating a potential role of post-translational modifications in reprogramming T. cruzi metabolism.
JOURNAL OF PROTEOMICS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Natalia Rego, Maria Gabriela Libisch, Carlos Rovira, Juan Pablo Tosar, Carlos Robello
Summary: Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, can infect various nucleated cells in mammals. This study focused on the role of microRNAs in the host-T. cruzi interaction and found that miR-146a, miR-708, and miR-1246 consistently respond to T. cruzi infection across different human cell types. The response to parasite infection was broad in macrophages, while changes in microRNAs were modest in epithelial and cardiomyocytes. These findings highlight the importance of considering microRNA changes at the cellular level and suggest miR-1246 and miR-708 as potential biomarkers for Chagas disease.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
P. T. V. Florentino, F. N. L. Vitorino, D. Mendes, J. P. C. da Cunha, C. F. M. Menck
Summary: By using quantitative proteomic analysis, this study revealed the impact of Trypanosoma cruzi infection on the chromatin of host cells. It was discovered that parasites interfere with DNA metabolism during both early and late infection stages. Proteins related to DNA damage repair, oxidative phosphorylation, and vesicle-mediated transport showed increased abundance in the host chromatin. Additionally, the translocation of Apoptosis-inducing Factor to the host cell nucleus after infection suggests that the parasites can induce a programmed cell death known as Parthanatos. These findings contribute to a better understanding of how parasites manipulate the chromatin of host cells to disseminate infection and provide potential targets for future treatments.
JOURNAL OF PROTEOMICS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Any Laura Flores-Villegas, Jesus Guillermo Jimenez-Cortes, James Gonzalez, Adriana Moreno-Rodriguez, Rebeca Perez-Cabeza de Vaca, Claudia Segal-Kischinevzky, Martha Bucio-Torres, Jose A. De Fuentes-Vicente, Elisabeth Nava-Lazaro, Paz Maria Salazar-Schettino, Margarita Cabrera Bravo
Summary: Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasite transmitted by triatomines, shows different virulence, tropism, and tssa gene expression in different isolates obtained from various triatomine species in Mexico.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sara Teixeira de Macedo-Silva, Gonzalo Visbal, Gabrielle Frizzo Souza, Mayara Roncaglia dos Santos, Simon B. Cammerer, Wanderley de Souza, Juliany Cola Fernandes Rodrigues
Summary: This study found that benzylamines have anti-parasitic activity against Leishmania amazonensis and affect the structure of the cell membrane and mitochondria by blocking the sterol synthesis pathway. These results suggest that benzylamines may be promising pharmaceutical leads for the treatment of leishmaniasis.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Juliana Magalhaes Chaves Barbosa, Yasmin Pedra-Rezende, Luiza Dantas Pereira, Tatiana Galvao de Melo, Helene Santos Barbosa, Joseli Lannes-Vieira, Solange Lisboa de Castro, Anissa Daliry, Kelly Salomao
Summary: The combination treatment of Bz + AMD can attenuate the damage caused by T. cruzi infection in cardiac cells and have a certain control effect on parasite replication.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Bibiana J. Volta, Patricia L. Bustos, Carolina Gonzalez, Maria Ailen Natale, Alina E. Perrone, Natalia Milduberger, Susana A. Laucella, Jacqueline Bua
Summary: This study evaluated differentially expressed factors in T. cruzi-infected pregnant women and found a proinflammatory cytokine profile associated with Chagas congenital transmission. High parasitemia along with certain cytokine level abnormalities were identified as factors increasing the probability of Chagas congenital transmission.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
