Inhibition of Trypanosoma cruzi proline racemase affects host-parasite interactions and the outcome of in vitro infection

摘要

Proline racemase is an important enzyme of Trypanosoma cruzi and has been shown to be an effective mitogenfor B cells, thus contributing to the parasite’s immune evasion and persistence in the human host. Recombinantepimastigote parasites overexpressing TcPRAC genes coding for proline racemase present an augmented abilityto differentiate into metacyclic infective forms and subsequently penetrate host-cells in vitro. Here we demonstratethat both anti T. cruzi proline racemase antibodies and the specific proline racemase inhibitor pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid significantly affect parasite infection of Vero cells in vitro. This inhibitor also hampers T. cruziintracellular differentiation.