Planning new Trypanosoma cruzi CYP51 inhibitors using QSAR studies.

Chagas disease kills over 10,000 people per year, and approximately 8 million people are infected by Trypanosoma cruzi. The reference drug for treatment of the disease, benznidazole, is the same since the 70s. In recent years, many CYP51 inhibitors were tested against this parasite's target.

Characteristics of Triatomine infestation and natural Trypanosoma cruzi infection in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

INTRODUCTION Natural and artificial ecotope infestation by the kissing bug triatomines and their colonization and infection by Trypanosoma cruzi , the Chagas disease agent, were evaluated in nine municipalities of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. METHODS Following identification, triatomine intestinal contents were analyzed by direct microscopic examination, xenoculture, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for parasite detection. Trypanosoma cruzi isolates were genotyped using three different markers.