Energy metabolism in Trypanosoma cruzi: the validated and putative bioenergetic and carbon sources

Trypanosoma cruzi, along with Trypanosoma brucei and over 20 species of the genus Leishmania, constitutes a group of human pathogenic flagellated protists collectively called the "TriTryp," posing among the best-studied protists. These organisms have complex life cycles and are transmitted by insects, which, along with vertebrates, serve as their natural hosts. Throughout their life cycles, these parasites encounter diverse environments with varying physical, chemical, biochemical, and biological characteristics that serve as stages for their evolutionary stories, culminating in different metabolic configurations and requirements. Here, we review the evidence for metabolic pathways that directly or indirectly participate in energy-transducing processes, discussing where appropriate the implications of the different metabolic networks in TriTryp.