Study of interference of drugs that act via receptors and / or transport of GABA and glutamate in the life cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi.

• Grant number: 11/05037-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2012
• End date: April 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Ariel Mariano Silber
• Grantee: Flávia Silva Damasceno
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Chagas disease is caused by the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and affects approximately 15 million people in endemic areas of Mexico, Central America and South America, causing approximately 12.000 deaths per year. Can be considered extremely neglected, which illustrates a troubling reality to the needs of the poorest and vulnerable planet. Despite being discovered over a century, there is still no effective therapy against Chagas disease. Trypanosoma cruzi is able to use carbohydrates and amino acids as a source of carbon and energy. The trypomastigotes preferentially use glucose as epimastigotes preferably obtain their energy from amino acids L-proline, L-aspartic L-glutâmico/glutamina and which are constituents of hemolymph and tissue fluids of the invertebrate host. Amino acids are also involved in other processes in the life cycle of T. cruzi as differentiation of intracellular epimastigotes to trypomastigotes, the process of osmoregulation, growth and parasite resistance to different types of stress. Recently it was demonstrated that amino acids glutamate and GABA are also transported in T. cruzi. The existence of a GABA transporter may indicate the involvement of this amino acid in biological processes and metabolism of T. cruzi can therefore be used as a target for new therapies against Chagas disease. This project aims to analyze the influence of drugs that act via receptors and / or transport of GABA and glutamate in the life cycle of T. cruzi.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

DAMASCENO, Flávia Silva. Study of interference of drugs that act via receptors and/or transport of GABA and glutamate in the life cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi.. 2013. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI) São Paulo.