Trypanosoma cruzi

Vector-born infectious disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. 

African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease) are caused by Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi, respectively. Sleeping sickness results from being bitten by the insect vector, the tsetse fly. At first there is only local lymphadenitis but about a month later generalized malaise, fever, and systemic disease involving skeletal muscle is seen. 

Bfx and Fx derivatives have been evaluated against the parasites Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), which is responsible for American Trypanosomiasis and Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) responsible for Malaria. 

DNA has also been tested as a carrier for ethidium bromide, a drug used in the treatment of protozoal diseases. When compared with free drug, the DNA-bound drug showed decreased toxicity and higher therapeutic efficacy in mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi [231]. 

Culture procedures have been developed for a number of blood and tissue parasites, but these procedures are used primarily in research. The culturing of Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma cruzi may be helpful for diagnosis, and the procedures are easy to use. 

Stothard, J.R., Frame, IA. and Miles, MA. (1997) Use of polymerase chain reaction-based single strand conformational polymorphism and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis methods for detection of sequence variation of ribosomal DNA of Trypanosoma cruzi. International Journal for Parasitology 27, 339-343. 

Chagas disease, both the serum immunoglobulin levels and complement titers were similar to those of other uninfected subjects living in the same area. The experimental findings in C.,H mice, that thymus-dependent cell mediated immune mechanisms arc involved in controlling infection with Trypanosoma cruzi appear promising. 

Ulrich H, Magdesian MH, Alves MJ et al (2002) In vitro selection of RNA aptamers that bind to cell adhesion receptors of Trypanosoma cruzi and inhibit cell invasion. J Biol Chem 277 20756-20762... 

Trypanosoma cruzi Protozoal causative agent of Chagas disease... 

Chagas disease, the South American variety of trypanosomiasis, is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. It is quite different from African trypanosomiasis in its clinical and pathological presentation and in its failure to respond to many agents effective in that disease. It has both an acute and chronic phase. The latter frequently results in gastrointestinal and myocardial disease that ends in death. 

Tomazela, D.M. et al., Pyrano chalcones and a flavone from Neoraputia magnifica and their Trypanosoma cruzi glycosomal glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase-inhibitory activities, Phytochemistry, 55, 643, 2000. 

Rubbo, H., Denacola, A., and Radi, R. (1994). Peroxynitrite inactivates thiol-containing enzymes of Trypanosoma cruzi energetic metabolism and inhibits cell respiration. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 308, 96-102. 

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