Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 18, 2026

Sexual Transmission of American Trypanosomes from Males and Females to Naive Mates
Published on: January 27, 2019
Virulence factors of Trypanosoma cruzi: who is who?
Luis Osorio1, Isabel Ríos, Bessy Gutiérrez
1Molecular Parasitology Unit, Medical Technology Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile.
Abstract:
The aim of this review is to gather the current knowledge of Trypanosoma cruzi's virulence factors described to date in an integrative way, relating these with the parasite's life cycle and trying to elucidate their importance in each process. Several aspects relevant for the parasite's survival, such as invasion, resistance to oxidative damage, escape from the phagolysosomal vacuole and differentiation, among others, will be discussed. However, there is still a lot to learn about what virulence really means in T. cruzi and which parasite molecules are absolutely required to make T. cruzi one of the most successful pathogens to invade, survive and persist in a mammalian host.
Related Concept Videos
Diversity of Protists I
Diversity of Protists II
Colonisation of Pathogens
Bacterial Phylum Chlamydiae
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

