Mechanisms of Infectivity and Evasion Derived from Microvesicles Cargo Produced by Trypanosoma cruzi

Abstract

Cell invasion by the intracellular protozoans requires interaction of proteins from both the host and the parasite. Many parasites establish chronic infections, showing they have the potential to escape the immune system; for example, Trypanosoma cruzi is an intracellular parasite that causes Chagas disease. Parasite internalization into host cell requires secreted and surface molecules, such as microvesicles. The release of microvesicles and other vesicles, such as exosomes, by different eukaryotic organisms was first observed in the late twentieth century. The characterization and function of these vesicles have recently been the focus of several investigations. In this review, we discuss the release of microvesicles by T. cruzi. The molecular content of these vesicles is composed of several molecules that take place during parasite-host cell interaction and contribute to the parasite-driven mechanism of evasion from the host immune system. These new findings appear to have a profound impact on the comprehension of T. cruzi biology and highlight novel potential strategies for developing more efficient therapeutic approaches.

Pathogens and Their Effect on Exosome Biogenesis and Composition

“…Several pathogenic organisms are capable of releasing exosomes, some of which are listed in Table 1 , fungus, Cryptococcus neoforman [ 72 ], Leishmania major [ 49 ], and T. cruzi [ 70 ]. A wealth of data suggests that T. cruzi -derived exosomes ( Figure 3 ) play a role in the invasion of the host-cell and modulation of infection which antagonizes the host [ 59 ].…”

“…Exosomes deliver payloads that promote T. cruzi cell invasion and evasion from the host immune response [ 59 ]. MVs are shed at the plasma membrane while exosomes are formed within a network [ 60 ].…”

“…Several studies have attempted to identify surface and secreted components of T. cruzi implicated in host-cell invasion, which consists of a multi-step process involving various parasite and host-cell molecules. Nearly, 367 distinct proteins were identified as cargo of secreted vesicles and exosomes produced by T. cruzi [ 59 ]. Proteomic analyses classified those proteins into 16 categories, involving host-parasite interaction, signaling, transporters, carbohydrate metabolism, oxidation-reduction, and others [ 70 ] ( Figure 3 ).…”

Astrocyte Apoptosis and HIV Replication Are Modulated in Host Cells Coinfected with Trypanosoma cruzi

“…The acute phase of Chagas disease is characterized by high parasitemia, broad tissue parasitism, and the development of different evasion mechanisms that impair the specific signoificnalty diminished immune response (Dosreis, 2011 ). Although, the host immune system fails to eliminate the parasite, it controls parasitemia when the chronic asymptomatic phase is achieved (Coura and Borges-Pereira, 2010 ; Borges et al, 2016 ).…”

Exosomes in the Pathogenic Protozoan Trypanosoma Cruzi

“…The following components have been detected in T. cruzi exosomes: TGF-β, GP63, GP82, GP85/trans-sialidase family, GP90, TcSMP, α-galactosyl glycoconjugates, cruzipain, SAP proteins, TcPIWI-tryp, FCaBP, and Cyclophilin A [37,58].…”