Biological features of TcM: A new isolate from Argentina classified into TcV lineage.

, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease (CD) presents a wide genetic and phenotypic diversity that is classified into seven lineages or discrete typing units (DTU: TcI to TcVI and Tcbat). Although isolates and strains that belong to a particular group can share some attributes, such as geographic distribution, others like growth rate, cell tropism, and response to treatment can be highly variable. In addition, studies that test new trypanocidal drugs are frequently conducted on strains maintained for a long time in axenic culture, resulting in changes in parasite virulence and other important features.