Moléculas envolvidas na invasão de células de mamíferos por Trypanosoma cruzi: uma revisão de literatura

Abstract

Trypanosoma cruzi is a parasite described as the etiologic agent of Chagas' disease. It has in its evolutionary cycle three distinct phases, needing two hosts for its basic biology. Hence it is presented as a protozoan of the hetorexenic life cycle. Chagas disease is a neglected illness described by Carlos Chagas, a brazilian researcher at the beginning of the 20th century which until today presents, this disease currently representing an alarming public health problem. The parasite presents a biological infection and cellular invasion involving several molecules and structures, activating a series of pathways and intracellular mechanisms. Glycoproteins(gp90, gp83, gp35/50e etc.) , sugars and proteins as a P21 are examples of factors that corroborate a susceptibility of host cell invasion by T. cruzi. Understanding and knowing the biological machinery involved in the process of cellular invasion by such parasite is fundamental for thinking about future prophylactic methods and treatments for disease regulation and parasite control.