Trypanosoma cruzi surface mucins are involved in the attachment to the Triatoma infestans rectal ampoule.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease, is a protozoan parasite transmitted to humans by blood-sucking triatomine vectors. However, and despite its utmost biological and epidemiological relevance, T. cruzi development inside the digestive tract of the insect remains a poorly understood process.

Methods/principle findings

Here we showed that Gp35/50 kDa mucins, the major surface glycoproteins from T. cruzi insect-dwelling forms, are involved in parasite attachment to the internal cuticle of the triatomine rectal ampoule, a critical step leading to its differentiation into mammal-infective forms. Experimental evidence supporting this conclusion could be summarized as follows: i) native and recombinant Gp35/50 kDa mucins directly interacted with hindgut tissu

SUBMITTER: Camara MLM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6544316 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature