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Updated: Dec 27, 2025
Author Spotlight: Real-Time Monitoring of Parasite Burden and Host Response
Published on: May 31, 2024
Assessing the effectiveness of AS-48 in experimental mice models of Chagas' disease
Rubén Martín-Escolano1, Rubén Cebrián2, Mercedes Maqueda2
1Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios De Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, E-18071 Granada, Spain.
Objectives:
We report the in vivo trypanocidal activity of the bacteriocin AS-48 (lacking toxicity), which is produced by Enterococcus faecalis, against the flagellated protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, the aetiological agent of Chagas' disease.
Methods:
We determined the in vivo activity of AS-48 against the T. cruzi Arequipa strain in BALB/c mice (in both acute and chronic phases of Chagas' disease). We evaluated the parasitaemia, the reactivation of parasitaemia after immunosuppression and the nested parasites in the chronic phase by PCR in target tissues.
Results:
AS-48 reduced the parasitaemia profile in acute infection and showed a noteworthy reduction in the parasitic load in chronic infection after immunosuppression according to the results obtained by PCR (double-checking to demonstrate cure).
Conclusions:
AS-48 is a promising alternative that provides a step forward in the development of a new therapy against Chagas' disease.
