title: Ultrastructural and physiological changes induced by different stress conditions on the human parasite Trypanosoma cruzi.
abstract: Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease. The life cycle of this protozoan parasite is digenetic because it alternates its different developmental forms through two hosts, a vector insect and a vertebrate host. As a result, the parasites are exposed to sudden and drastic environmental changes causing cellular stress. The stress response to some types of stress has been studied in T. cruzi, mainly at the molecular level; however, data about ultrastructure and physiological state of the cells in stress conditions are scarce or null. In this work, we analyzed the morphological, ultrastructural, and physiological changes produced on T. cruzi epimastigotes when they were exposed to acid, nutritional, heat, and oxidative stress. Clear morphological changes were observed, but the physiological conditions varied depending on the type of stress. The maintenance of the physiological state was severely affected by heat shock, acidic, nutritional, and oxidative stress. According to the surprising observed growth recovery after damage by stress alterations, different adaptations from the parasite to these harsh conditions were suggested. Particular cellular death pathways are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Estudios sobre Tripanosomiasis. Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, A.P. 70228, C.P. 04510, Ciudad de México, México.
authors.forename: Deyanira
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pérez-Morales
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Estudios sobre Tripanosomiasis. Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, A.P. 70228, C.P. 04510, Ciudad de México, México.
authors.forename: Karla Daniela Rodríguez
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Estudios sobre Tripanosomiasis. Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, A.P. 70228, C.P. 04510, Ciudad de México, México.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, A.P. 70228, C.P. 04510, México, D.F., México.
authors.forename: Lourdes Teresa
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Agredano-Moreno
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, A.P. 70228, C.P. 04510, México, D.F., México.
authors.forename: Luis Felipe
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Jiménez-García
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Estudios sobre Tripanosomiasis. Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, A.P. 70228, C.P. 04510, Ciudad de México, México. besgu@iibiomedicas.unam.mx.
authors.forename: Bertha
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4232-528X
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Espinoza
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000633:toxicity; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013696:Temperature; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide
keywords: Apoptosis; Physiological damage; Stress; Trypanosoma cruzi