Scientists study parasitic life cycle to combat Chagas deadly disease

Chagas disease is often called silent killer because many people do not realize that they have it until the complications of infection kill them.

Researchers from the University of Cincinnati explore ways to interrupt the life cycle of the parasite behind the disease, offering the hope of developing a remedy.

The disease is propagated by parasites found in kisses insectswho suck people’s blood when they sleep. Insects generally bite the victims around their faces, which gives them their ironically sweet name. Bogues transmit the internal parasites In their poop, which infects the blood circulation of human hosts through bite wounds.

The study was published in the newspaper Mbio.

Chagas disease is in North and South America. Between 6 and 8 million people are infected, including 300,000 people living in the United States. But many realize that they are infected when they develop symptoms of decades later.

“The main problem with Chagas disease as a public health problem is that most people do not know that they are infected until the symptoms appear and that it is too late to treat them,” said assistant professor of the UC Noelia Lander.

In his molecular parasitology laboratory, Lander and his students study the complex life cycle of the parasite to find vulnerabilities to be exploited.

The parasite is a tiny single cell body which undergoes four life cycle changes to survive and reproduce on its odyssey of the digestive system of an insect to the blood circulation of a human and a back. Along the way, he must be able to withstand spectacular differences in his environment such as acidity, temperature and availability of nutrients.

The parasite has lived on earth for millions of years – long before people.

“I know that the parasite is the enemy. But I am impressed by the mechanisms that the parasite must survive during his life cycle,” said Lander. “The objective is to find its weaknesses to fight against the disease.”

Joshua Carlson, a graduate of the UC, was the main author of the newspaper. The co-author and doctoral student UC Milad Ahmed said that the parasite hides in the cells in which he infects human tissueshelping him to escape both the immune system and drugs. Once the disease becomes chronic, treatments become much less effective, he said.

The researchers used genetic editing tools to manipulate the genes of the parasite. The objective was to identify the location and function of one of the proteins that help the small parasite to adapt, said the co-author of the study and the deputy professor of the UC, Miguel Chiurillo.

Lander said that the interruption of the parasitic life cycle is a promising target for future medical treatments.

“If the parasite cannot be transformed during his life cycleIt won’t survive, “she said.