Receptors and recognition mechanisms of Trypanosoma cruzi

The current state of knowledge on receptor and recognition interactions which take place during the life-cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi is reviewed. Evidence suggests that carbohydrate plays a central role in these recognition mechanisms. Lectin-sugar interactions appear to be involved in uptake of the parasite by host cells including macrophages and a protein on the surface of trypomastigote which binds N-acetyl glucosamine on the host cell has been implicated in host cell invasion. Sugars on a 72,000 molecular weight glycoprotein on epimastigotes have also been implicated in colonization of the gut of the insect vector and in control of the morphological changes which take place in the insect gut.