Understanding CD8+ T cell immunity to T. cruzi and how to improve it

ACOSTA RODRIGUEZ EV; ARAUJO FURLÁN CL; FIOCCA VERNENGO F; MONTES CL; GRUPPI A

TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2019

1471-4922

he protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease, endemic in Latin America but present worldwide. Chronic infection with T. cruzi often results in disabling cardiomyopathy, becoming a major cause of non-ischemic heart disease globally. During the last 30 years many efforts have been focused on the examination of the immune mechanisms that mediate host protection as well as immunopathology during this parasitic infection. In particular, the study of the CD8+ T cell immunity emerges as a key aspect given the critical importance of parasite-specific CD8+ T cells for host resistance throughout the infection. In the last years, new research has shed light about novel pathways that modulate the induction, maintenance and regulation of CD8+ T cell responses to T. cruzi. This new knowledge is setting the ground for future vaccines and/or immune therapies. Herein, we critically review and analyze the latest results published in the field.