Ultrastructural and physiological changes induced by different stress conditions on the human parasite Trypanosoma cruzi.

ABSTRACT: Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease. The life cycle of this protozoan parasite is digenetic because it alternates its different developmental forms through two hosts, a vector insect and a vertebrate host. As a result, the parasites are exposed to sudden and drastic environmental changes causing cellular stress. The stress response to some types of stress has been studied in T. cruzi, mainly at the molecular level; however, data about ultrastructure and physiological state of the cells in stress conditions are scarce or null. In this work, we analyzed the morphological, ultrastructural, and physiological changes produced on T. cruzi epimastigotes when they were exposed to acid, nutritional, heat, and oxidative stress. Clear morphological changes were observed, but

SUBMITTER: Perez-Morales D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5225055 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature