title: The targets of the lytic antibody response against Trypanosoma cruzi.
abstract: Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes, but not epimastigotes, are normally resistant to the lytic effects of complement from vertebrate hosts susceptible to infection. This resistance facilitates parasite survival and infectivity. During the course of chronic infections, however, the vertebrate hosts produce antibodies that render the trypomastigotes sensitive to lysis, primarily via the alternative complement cascade and amplified by the classical pathway. Here, Greice Krautz, Jessica Kissinger and Antoniana Krettli summarize research on lytic antibodies, and on their respective target(s) on the T. cruzi surface. These targets are useful in tests aimed at the diagnosis of chronic Chagas disease for control of cure after specific treatment and for vaccine development.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Krautz
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kissinger
authors.forename: A U
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Krettli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology; D018958:CD55 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D003170:Complement Pathway, Alternative / Q000276:immunology*; D003171:Complement Pathway, Classical / Q000276:immunology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D018958:CD55 Antigens