Cystatin from Austrelaps superbus snake venom as a model for identifying potential inhibitors of Trypanosoma cruzi cruzain.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chagas disease (CD), caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, affects approximately seven million individuals worldwide, with the highest number of cases in Latin America. CD has two phases, of which the chronic phase is characterized by reduced efficacy in drug therapies. This and other factors make developing new strategies that aim to identify molecules capable of becoming alternatives to or complement current chemotherapy vitally important.

Methods

Cruzain and AsCystatin were obtained recombinantly through expression in E. coli. Bioinformatic assays were conducted with both molecules, followed by in vitro enzyme inhibition assays. Subsequently, in silico studies allowed for the design of peptides, which were then assessed for molecular interact

SUBMITTER: Diaz JJAR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11832194 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature