The Uniqueness of the Trypanosoma cruzi Mitochondrion: Opportunities to Target New Drugs Against Chagas Disease

Title: The Uniqueness of the Trypanosoma cruzi Mitochondrion: Opportunities to Target New Drugs Against Chagas Disease

Volume: 17 Issue: 20

Author(s): Lisvane Silva Paes, Brian Suarez Mantilla, Maria Julia Barison, Carsten Wrenger and Ariel Mariano Silber

Affiliation:

• Predio Biomedicas II, Av. Lineu Prestes 1374, Sala 24, Cidade Universitaria (05508-900) Sao Paulo (SP) Brazil.,Brazil

Keywords: Trypanosoma cruzi, mitochondria, metabolism, bioenergetics, oxidative stress, chemotherapy, phagocytosis, Topoisomerases, endonucleases, exonucleases

Abstract: Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease, which affects some 8 - 10 million people in the Americas. The only two drugs approved for the etiological treatment of the disease in humans were launched more than 40 years ago and have serious drawbacks. In the present work, we revisit the unique characteristics of T. cruzi mitochondria and mitochondrial metabolism. The possibility of taking advantage of these peculiarities to target new drugs against this parasite is also discussed.

Cite this article as:

Silva Paes Lisvane, Suarez Mantilla Brian, Julia Barison Maria, Wrenger Carsten and Mariano Silber Ariel, The Uniqueness of the Trypanosoma cruzi Mitochondrion: Opportunities to Target New Drugs Against Chagas Disease, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2011; 17(20) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161211796904786