Ecological Effects of Chagas Disease and The Triatominae reduviidae
By
Billy John Muro
For
Mr. Jose Maldonado
Biol 1307
December 6, 2016
Abstract
America Trypanosomiasis most commonly known as Chagas disease (ChD) is caused by a protozoan parasite known as Trypanosoma cruzi. This disease affects 7 to 8 million people worldwide. Current treatments such as benznidazole and nifurtimox are partially effective and cause severe side effects, for this reason there is an urgent need to improve the chemotherapeutic treatment against ChD. Consequently, research must be conducted to investigate the anti-parasitic activity of experimental compounds in T. cruzi. In vitro techniques are the first step in a ladder for experimental compounds to get approved by the FDA. As a researcher at UTEP I was assigned to do, viability assay with T. cruzi- epimastigotes expressing luciferase in order to determine the anti-parasitic activity of the compounds for a period of a 72 hr incubation of both drug and parasite; followed by the addition of one glow luciferase in a Luminoskan machine. Additionally, assessment of cytotoxicity of the compounds for a 96 hr incubation in Osteoblast, Fibroblast, and LLC-MK2 cells by using Propidium Iodide and Hoescht viability assay in the BD Pathway 855 machine. Results were examined and discussions were made for further testing. Due to confidentiality I am not able to go into great detail regarding results. Outline Thesis: Chagas Disease is not prevalent among the citizens of the United States of America even though the Disease impacts millions of people throughout Latina and central America and it is now moving towards the southern states of the U.S. …show more content…
media coverage to inform the public about this disease is lacking, therefore it is up to Researchers and laboratories to find treatments to inhibit the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi that is involved in Chagas disease.
I. Introduction of Chagas Disease
A. Trypanosoma cruzi and Chagas disease
1. History and who discovered it.
2. What causes Chagas disease?
B. How is the Disease transmitted
1. Life Cycle
2. Who is impacted by this Disease (Epidemiology)
II. Treatments
A. Current treatments and side effects B. Citizens should be informed III. What is being done to alleviate the issue A. Research is being done in laboratories B. The challenge of funding History of Chagas Disease American Trypanosomiasis commonly known as Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. T. cruzi currently affects around 8 million people who are residing in endemic areas of the disease. (CDC) It has been a little bit more than a century since Chagas disease has been discovered even though this much time has passed a treatment or a vaccine hasn’t been fully established that is fully able to inhibit the parasite in its chronic stage. However we owe our gratitude to Dr. Carlos Chagas whom was the first to publish and report his findings of the disease. “Chagas disease named after Dr. …show more content…
Carlos Chagas was who first described the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi in infected humans in 1909 while employed under Oswaldo Cruz at an Institute in Brazil. Chagas discovered that the parasites T. cruzi are transmitted to humans by introducing themselves in breaks in the skin such as cut or the bite wound of a Triatominae bug, after they are deposited on the skin. Chagas was the first scientist to discover all aspects of a new infectious disease: its pathogen (T. cruzi), main insect vector (Triatominae commonly known as kissing bugs), hosts (humans, mammals), clinical manifestations, and epidemiology. The parasite species was named cruzi to honor his employer and scientific mentor, Oswaldo Cruz.”(PHD Charles) Trypanosoma cruzi Now that the Disease has been introduced know we can focus more on the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and its ecological affects.” T. cruzi has been transmitted among wild mammals for almost 10 million years”. (WHO) As a consequence the settlement of people and the increase of agriculture, domestication of animals has facilitated human infection. “The oldest record of T. cruzi has been found in mummies located in Chile and Peru that are almost 9,000 years old. Evidence has showed that Chagas disease vector (Triatoma) has been in human dwellings in pre-Columbian Inca and Chinchorro cultures.”(WHO) Over the past centuries, deforestation for agriculture and livestock and the construction of highways, triatomine bugs little by little lost their primary food source of wild
By
Billy John Muro
For
Mr. Jose Maldonado
Biol 1307
December 6, 2016
Abstract
America Trypanosomiasis most commonly known as Chagas disease (ChD) is caused by a protozoan parasite known as Trypanosoma cruzi. This disease affects 7 to 8 million people worldwide. Current treatments such as benznidazole and nifurtimox are partially effective and cause severe side effects, for this reason there is an urgent need to improve the chemotherapeutic treatment against ChD. Consequently, research must be conducted to investigate the anti-parasitic activity of experimental compounds in T. cruzi. In vitro techniques are the first step in a ladder for experimental compounds to get approved by the FDA. As a researcher at UTEP I was assigned to do, viability assay with T. cruzi- epimastigotes expressing luciferase in order to determine the anti-parasitic activity of the compounds for a period of a 72 hr incubation of both drug and parasite; followed by the addition of one glow luciferase in a Luminoskan machine. Additionally, assessment of cytotoxicity of the compounds for a 96 hr incubation in Osteoblast, Fibroblast, and LLC-MK2 cells by using Propidium Iodide and Hoescht viability assay in the BD Pathway 855 machine. Results were examined and discussions were made for further testing. Due to confidentiality I am not able to go into great detail regarding results. Outline Thesis: Chagas Disease is not prevalent among the citizens of the United States of America even though the Disease impacts millions of people throughout Latina and central America and it is now moving towards the southern states of the U.S. …show more content…
media coverage to inform the public about this disease is lacking, therefore it is up to Researchers and laboratories to find treatments to inhibit the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi that is involved in Chagas disease.
I. Introduction of Chagas Disease
A. Trypanosoma cruzi and Chagas disease
1. History and who discovered it.
2. What causes Chagas disease?
B. How is the Disease transmitted
1. Life Cycle
2. Who is impacted by this Disease (Epidemiology)
II. Treatments
A. Current treatments and side effects B. Citizens should be informed III. What is being done to alleviate the issue A. Research is being done in laboratories B. The challenge of funding History of Chagas Disease American Trypanosomiasis commonly known as Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. T. cruzi currently affects around 8 million people who are residing in endemic areas of the disease. (CDC) It has been a little bit more than a century since Chagas disease has been discovered even though this much time has passed a treatment or a vaccine hasn’t been fully established that is fully able to inhibit the parasite in its chronic stage. However we owe our gratitude to Dr. Carlos Chagas whom was the first to publish and report his findings of the disease. “Chagas disease named after Dr. …show more content…
Carlos Chagas was who first described the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi in infected humans in 1909 while employed under Oswaldo Cruz at an Institute in Brazil. Chagas discovered that the parasites T. cruzi are transmitted to humans by introducing themselves in breaks in the skin such as cut or the bite wound of a Triatominae bug, after they are deposited on the skin. Chagas was the first scientist to discover all aspects of a new infectious disease: its pathogen (T. cruzi), main insect vector (Triatominae commonly known as kissing bugs), hosts (humans, mammals), clinical manifestations, and epidemiology. The parasite species was named cruzi to honor his employer and scientific mentor, Oswaldo Cruz.”(PHD Charles) Trypanosoma cruzi Now that the Disease has been introduced know we can focus more on the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and its ecological affects.” T. cruzi has been transmitted among wild mammals for almost 10 million years”. (WHO) As a consequence the settlement of people and the increase of agriculture, domestication of animals has facilitated human infection. “The oldest record of T. cruzi has been found in mummies located in Chile and Peru that are almost 9,000 years old. Evidence has showed that Chagas disease vector (Triatoma) has been in human dwellings in pre-Columbian Inca and Chinchorro cultures.”(WHO) Over the past centuries, deforestation for agriculture and livestock and the construction of highways, triatomine bugs little by little lost their primary food source of wild