Trypanosoma cruzi Archives - Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases

Glycosomal Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase CRISPR/Cas9-Deletion and Its Role in Trypanosoma cruzi Metacyclogenesis and Infectivity in Mammalian Host

Donna Huber on March 12, 2026

Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, possesses glycosomes-unique organelles that house key metabolic enzymes, several of which are promising therapeutic targets. Among them, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) plays a central role in succinic fermentation, the main pathway for NAD+ regeneration within the organelle. Using CRISPR/Cas9 editing, the PEPCK gene was disrupted in T. cruzi, …

Cellular biology graduate student receives American Heart Association fellowship

Donna Huber on March 9, 2026

Aylla von Ermland, a Ph.D. student in the Franklin College of Art and Science’s Department of Cellular Biology, recently received a pre-doctoral fellowship from the American Heart Association to fund two years of her research. Growing up in Brazil, von Ermland learned about Chagas disease at an early age. Carlos Chagas was a Brazilian …

Imaging Ca2+ Signaling in Trypanosoma cruzi with Genetically Encoded Ca2+ Indicators

Donna Huber on February 3, 2026

Genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs) are proteins used to monitor calcium ion (Ca2+) changes in living cells. They can be targeted to the cytosol or to organelles for continuous measurements in vivo. In this chapter, we present an overview of the methods that our lab used to detect Ca2+ changes in Trypanosoma cruzi elicited by stimulation …

Selenocyanate-Containing Molecules as Trypanosoma cruzi Inhibitors: Impact of Regioisomerism, Conformational Restriction, and Second-Ring Substitution

Donna Huber on November 11, 2025

As a continuation of the project aimed at searching for new chemotherapeuticagents against Chagas disease or American trypanosomiasis, new selenocyanate derivatives are designed, synthesized, and biologically evaluated against the clinically more relevant dividing amastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of this illness. Furthermore, as all the title compounds are fluorine-containing molecules, it seemed …

UGA researchers develop first test of cure for Chagas disease

Donna Huber on July 1, 2025

New test protocol can detect low levels of Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease Researchers at the University of Georgia’s Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases have developed the first test to determine whether treatment for Chagas disease was effective. An estimated 6 million to 8 million people worldwide are infected with …

In the News: Rick Tarleton

Donna Huber on June 24, 2025

UGA researchers develop first test of cure for Chagas disease (UGA Today) UGA Pioneers First Test for Chagas Disease Cure (Mirage) UGA researchers develop first test of cure for Chagas disease (Newswise) ¿Se curó la infección de Chagas? Un nuevo test podría dar la respuesta (Infobae) Chagas disease: Test for cure (Outbreak News Today) AN2 …

Highly cross-reactive and competent effectors dominate the CD8+ T cell response in Trypanosoma cruzi infection

Donna Huber on June 16, 2025

CD8+ T cells are key effectors in immune control of Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Within C57BL/6 mice, the T. cruzi-specific CD8+ T cell response is largely comprised of T cells recognizing trans-sialidase (TS)- and mucin-encoded epitopes. Despite their immunodominance, these epitope-specific CD8+ T cells are entirely dispensable for immune control. In a screen for epitopes inducing …

Protocol for laboratory rearing and infection tracking of Rhodnius prolixus using 3D-printable designs

Donna Huber on June 13, 2025

Human infections by Trypanosoma cruzi propagate via its blood-feeding triatomine vector. Investigating parasite-vector interactions depends upon robust techniques to rear insects and analyze infections. Here, we present a protocol for laboratory rearing and infection tracking of Rhodnius prolixus. We describe steps for housing, feeding, and sorting strategies using 3D-printable designs. We also detail procedures for …

The importance of persistence and dormancy in Trypanosoma cruzi infection and Chagas disease

Donna Huber on June 5, 2025

Trypanosoma cruzi typically establishes a life-long infection in its mammalian hosts, causing the destruction of muscle tissues and ultimately resulting in potentially fatal Chagas disease. In this review, we consider the array of avoidance mechanisms that allow for T. cruzi persistence, many of which are unconventional among protozoan pathogens but which collectively are highly effective …

In the News: Rick Tarleton

Donna Huber on May 13, 2025

Researchers secure funding to advance Chagas disease research (News-Medical.net) Investigators are studying Chagas disease with a One Health approach (DVM360) UGA and Texas A&M Researchers tackle Chagas disease in dogs and humans (WUGA) Countable Labs Launches Single-Molecule DNA Counting System, PCR Application (GenomeWeb)

Tag: Trypanosoma cruzi