Chagas' disease: an update on immune mechanisms and therapeutic strategies

Author(s)

Boscardin, Silvia Beatriz ^[1] ; Troccoli Torrecilhas, Ana Claudia ^{[1, 2]} ; Manarin, Romina ^[3] ; Revelli, Silvia ^[3] ; Gonzalez Rey, Elena ^[4] ; Tonelli, Renata Rosito ^[5] ; Silber, Ariel Mariano ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Dept Parasitol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Mackenzie Presbeterian Univ, Ctr Biomol Sci & Hlth, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Natl Univ Rosario, Sch Med Sci, Inst Immunol, Rosario, Santa Fe - Argentina

^[4] CSIC, Inst Parasitol & Biomed Lopez Neyra, Granada - Spain

^[5] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Microbiol Immunol & Parasitol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: JOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE; v. 14, n. 6B, p. 1373-1384, JUN 2010.
• Web of Science Citations: 25

Abstract

The final decade of the 20th century was marked by an alarming resurgence in infectious diseases caused by tropical parasites belonging to the kinetoplastid protozoan order. Among the pathogenic trypanosomatids, some species are of particular interest due to their medical importance. These species include the agent responsible for Chagas' disease, Trypanosoma cruzi. Approximately 8 to 10 million people are infected in the Americas, and approximately 40 million are at risk. In the present review, we discuss in detail the immune mechanisms elicited during infection by T. cruzi and the effects of chemotherapy in controlling parasite proliferation and on the host immune system. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 07/08648-9 - Recombinant antigen targeting to dendritic cells in vivo: a new strategy for the development of vaccines
• Grantee: Silvia Beatriz Boscardin
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants