A cysteine protease inhibitor protects dogs from cardiac damage during infection by Trypanosoma cruzi.
Cruzain is an essential cysteine protease of Trypanosoma cruzi and a therapeutic target for Chagas' disease. Eight dogs were infected with T. cruzi; three were treated with an inhibitor of cruzain, K777, for 14 days. Treatment with K777 abrogated myocardial damage by T. cruzi, as documented by histopathological lesion scores and serum troponin I levels.
Barr
S C
SC
Department of Clinical Sciences, Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, New York 14850, USA.
Warner
K L
KL
Kornreic
B G
BG
Piscitelli
J
J
Wolfe
A
A
Benet
L
L
McKerrow
J H
JH
D000818:Animals; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000187:drug effects*; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004285:Dogs; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000187:drug effects; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000187:drug effects*
D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C074032:cruzain, Trypanosoma cruzi