Members of the Tc-85 protein family from Trypanosoma cruzi are adhesion proteins

ABSTRACT

In recent years, attention has been focused on the characterization of surface proteins from Trypanosoma cruzi in an attempt to understand the invasion mechanism of the parasite. Among the molecules described by different laboratories, we report an 85-KDa glycoprotein specific for the trypomastigote stage (Tc-85) which has been implicated in the invasion of host cells by the parasite. The hypothesis that different members of the Tc-85 protein family are involved in the adhesion of the parasite to the host is discussed.