Host Organelle Interactions Facilitate Cholesterol Acquisition by Trypanosoma cruzi Amastigotes.

ABSTRACT: Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is a major neglected disease in Latin America. The amastigote, the replicative intracellular form, is essential for infection persistence in vertebrate hosts. These forms exhibit remarkable adaptability, modulating metabolism and growth according to host cell resource availability. Lipid metabolism plays a critical role in amastigote development, with a strong dependence on host-derived lipids, particularly cholesterol. Although T. cruzi can synthesize some sterols and fatty acids, it also scavenges essential lipids from the host. Changes in host cholesterol metabolism, possibly via SREBPs, may increase intracellular cholesterol levels and promote parasite growth. However, the mechanisms of cholesterol acquisition by amastigotes re

SUBMITTER: Alcantara CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12277875 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul-Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature