Inhibition of HIV-1 Replication in Human Monocyte-Derived Macrophages by Parasite Trypanosoma cruzi

GUADALUPE ANDREANI, ANA M. CELENTANO, MARÍA E. SOLANA, SILVIA I. CAZORLA, EMILIO L. MALCHIODI, LILIANA A. MARTÍNEZ PERALTA, GUILLERMINA L. DOLCINI

PLOS ONE

PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE

Año: 2009 vol. 4 p. 1 - 13

1932-6203

Background: Cells of monocyte/macrophage lineage are one of the major targets of HIV-1 infection and serve as reservoirs for viral persistence in vivo. These cells are also the target of the protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, being one of the most important endemic protozoonoses in Latin America. It has been demonstrated in vitro that co-infection with other pathogens can modulate HIV replication. However, no studies at cellular level have suggested an interaction between T. cruzi and HIV-1 to date. Methodology/Principal Findings: By using a fully replicative wild-type virus, our study showed that T. cruzi inhibits HIV-1 antigen production by nearly 100% (p