Abstract
Cruzain, the main Trypanosoma cruzi cysteine protease, is an enzyme essential for the life cycle of the parasite and has been used as a viable target to search for enzyme inhibitor drug candidates. The K777 peptidemimetic compound inhibits cruzain in nanomolar concentrations and acts through a mechanism of irreversible inhibition. Analogs or derivatives of the K777 usually contain electro…