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Biochemical behavior of Trypanosoma cruzi strains isolated from mice submitted to specific chemotherapy
1Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA.
Abstract:
To investigate the influence of chemotherapy on the biochemical behavior of Trypanosoma cruzi strains, three groups of mice were infected with one of three strains of T. cruzi of different biological and isoenzymic patterns (Peruvian, 21SF and Colombian strains). Each group was subdivided into subgroups: 1-treated with nifurtimox; 2-treated with benznidazole and 3-untreated infected controls. At the end of treatment, that lasted for 90 days, xenodiagnosis, subinocculation of blood into new born mice and hemoculture were performed as tests of cure. From the positive tests, 22 samples of T. cruzi were isolated from all subgroups. Electrophoretic analysis of the isoenzymes PGM, GP1, ALAT and ASAT failed to show any difference between parasite strains isolated from treated and untreated mice, which indicates that no detectable clonal selection or parasite genetic markers alterations concerning the isoenzymes analysed have been determined by treatment with drugs of recognized antiparasitic effect, suggesting stability of the phenotypic characteristics of the three biological types of T. cruzi strains.
Insights
Chemotherapy with nifurtimox or benznidazole did not alter the biochemical behavior of Trypanosoma cruzi strains. Analysis of key isoenzymes revealed no genetic changes in the parasites after treatment, indicating strain stability.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Trypanosoma cruzi causes Chagas disease, a significant public health concern.
- Understanding the impact of antiparasitic drugs on parasite genetics is crucial for treatment efficacy.
- Different T. cruzi strains exhibit diverse biological and isoenzymic profiles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of chemotherapy on the biochemical behavior of T. cruzi strains.
- To determine if antiparasitic drugs induce genetic alterations or clonal selection in T. cruzi.
- To assess the stability of phenotypic characteristics of different T. cruzi strains under drug pressure.
Main Methods:
- Infection of mice with three distinct T. cruzi strains (Peruvian, 21SF, Colombian).
- Treatment groups included nifurtimox, benznidazole, and untreated controls.
- Parasite isolation and isoenzyme analysis (PGM, GP1, ALAT, ASAT) post-treatment.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were observed in isoenzyme profiles between T. cruzi strains from treated and untreated mice.
- Electrophoretic analysis failed to detect clonal selection or genetic marker alterations.
- The study suggests stability of the analyzed phenotypic characteristics of the T. cruzi strains.
Conclusions:
- Nifurtimox and benznidazole treatments did not induce detectable genetic changes in the studied T. cruzi isoenzymes.
- The phenotypic characteristics of these T. cruzi strains appear stable despite antiparasitic drug exposure.
- Further research may explore other genetic markers or drug effects on T. cruzi.