Project description:Comparative genomic analysis of T. cruzi CLB vs Trypanosoma rangeli (strains SC, Choachí, C23, H14, R1625 and PIT10) and Trypanosoma conorhini
Project description:This laboratory is focusing on to clarify the biologic relevance of a virulence factor known as trans-sialidase from Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of the Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis).
Project description:This laboratory is focusing on to clarify the biologic relevance of a virulence factor known as trans-sialidase from Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of the Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis).
Project description:Antibody recognition of Trypanosoma cruzi conserved proteins was assessed by evaluating pools of patient IgG samples on microarrays of 400,000 peptides covering these proteins as 15-mers with an overlap of 13 amino acids.
Project description:The intracellular pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi secretes an activity that blocks TGF-β-dependent induction of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2). Here, we address the mechanistic basis for T. cruzi-mediated interference of CTGF/CCN2 expression by examining host cell signaling pathways and the global inhibitory effect on TGF-β-dependent gene expression. We show that the expression of a discrete subset of TGF-β-inducible genes involved in cell proliferation, wound repair, and immune regulation are blocked by the soluble T. cruzi activity, demonstrating that this parasite-derived activity has broad, but specific effects on fibroblast gene regulation.