Disruption of Active Trans-Sialidase Genes Impairs Egress from Mammalian Host Cells and Generates Highly Attenuated Trypanosoma cruzi Parasites
Gabriela de Assis Burle-Caldas, Nailma Silva Aprigio dos Santos, Julia Castro, Fernanda L. B. Mügge, Viviane Grazielle-Silva, Antônio Edson Rocha Oliveira, Milton Pereira, João Luís Reis-Cunha, Anderson Coqueiro dos Santos, Dawidson Assis Gomes, Daniella Castanheira Bartholomeu, Nilmar Silvio Moretti, Sérgio Schenkman, Ricardo T. Gazzinelli, Santuza Maria Ribeiro Teixeira
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease that affects approximately 6 to 8 million people and for which there is no effective treatment or vaccine. The parasite expresses a family of surface proteins, named trans-sialidases, responsible for transferring sialic acid from host glycoconjugates to parasite mucins.
Topics & Concepts
Trypanosoma cruziHost (biology)GeneBiologyVirologyChagas diseaseMicrobiologyCell biologyParasite hostingGeneticsComputer scienceWorld Wide WebTrypanosoma species research and implicationsResearch on Leishmaniasis StudiesBiochemical and Molecular Research