Chagas disease: role of parasite genetic variation in pathogenesis.
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.
Macedo
Andra M
AM
Departamento de Bioqumica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antnio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-970, Brazil. andrea@mono.icb.ufmg.br
Oliveira
Riva P
RP
Pena
Srgio D J
SD
D000818:Animals; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*