Molecular biology fo Trypasoma cruzi: new tools for tackling the problem of Chagas' disease

ABSTRACT

Trypanosomes are parasotic protozoa of social and economic importance since they can cause disease in man and in animals. Recent developments in the field or molecular parasotology resulted in the cloning of several genes of parasites and in a better knowledge of the organization of their genomes. Thanks to these progresses, new reagents have been developed for the diagnosis of parasitic diseases and it is very likely that in the near future these studies will contribute to the development of new therapies. In the case of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas´disease, new reagents have been developed allowing a better, safer and more precise diagnosis of the disease. The perspective of a better knowledge of the genetics and the molecular biology of the parasite, will lead to the development of new therapies for Chagas´disease. In this article I review recent advances from my laboratory concerning the molecular biology of T. cruzi.