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Chagas disease: role of parasite genetic variation in pathogenesis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 February 2004

Andréa M. Macedo ,
Riva P. Oliveira  and
Sérgio D.J. Pena
Andréa M. Macedo
Affiliation:
Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-970, Brazil.
Riva P. Oliveira
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ciências Biolôgicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Campus Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, MG, 35.400-000, Brazil.
Sérgio D.J. Pena
Affiliation:
Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-970, Brazil.
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Abstract

Chagas disease, caused by the parasite protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is characterised by a variable clinical course, from symptomless cases to severe chronic disease with cardiac and/or gastrointestinal involvement. This variability has been attributed both to differences in the host response and to genomic heterogeneity of the parasite. This article reviews the evidence in favour of an important role of the genetic constitution of T. cruzi in determining the clinical characteristics of Chagas disease and discusses the basis of the ‘Clonal-Histotropic Model’ for the pathogenesis of this disease.

Keywords

Trypanosoma cruziChagas diseasemolecular epidemiologygenetic variabilitytissue tropismpathogenesisclonal-histotropic model
Type
Review Article
Information
Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine , Volume 4 , Issue 5 , 5 March 2002 , pp. 1 - 16
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2002

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