sesquiterpene lactones induce oxidative stress on Trypanosoma cruzi

BARRERA PA; GAIA A; SPINA RM, ; TELLO FARAL P, ; ROBELLO C,; CIFUENTE DA, ; SOSA MA.

Merlo-San Luis

Congreso; XXXV Reunión Científica Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo.; 2017

Chagas disease is a parasitic infection caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) that affects about 6 million people in Latin America. Despite its sanitary importance, there are currently only two drugs available for its treatment: benznidazole and nifurtimox, both exhibiting serious adverse effects on patients. To complete its life cycle, T. cruzi should alternate between mammalian and invertebrate hosts, and face extreme fluctuations such as oxidative environment. It is known that antioxidant defense system in the trypanosomatids is different from mammalian cells, since the parasites have exclusive molecules and reducing enzymes. Due this, parasite redox pathway is an attractive target for antiparasitic therapies.