Secreted Cyclophilin CyP19 as an Early Marker for Trypanocidal Treatment Efficiency.

Cyclophilins (CyPs) are a family of enzymes involved in protein folding. , the causative agent of Chagas disease, has a 19-kDa cyclophilin, CyP19, that was found to be secreted in parasite stages of the CL Brener clone and recognized by sera from -infected mice and patients. The levels of specific antibodies against CyP19 in -infected mice and subjects before and after drug treatment were measured by an in-house enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Mice in the acute and chronic phase of infection, with successful trypanocidal treatments, showed significantly lower anti-CyP19 antibody levels than untreated mice. In children and adults chronically infected with , a significant decrease in the anti-CyP19 titers was observed after 12 months of etiological treatment. This decrease was maintained in adult chronic patients followed-up 30-38 months post-treatment. These results encourage further studies on CyP19 as an early biomarker of trypanocidal treatment efficiency.