A. F. Francisco

A panel of phenotypically and genotypically diverse bioluminescent: fluorescent Trypanosoma cruzi strains as a resource for Chagas disease research

The paper describes a panel of bioluminescent and fluorescent Trypanosoma cruzi strains to study Chagas disease, enabling real-time monitoring of infection dynamics and drug screening.

Dynamics of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in hamsters and novel association with progressive motor dysfunction

This study establishes a hamster model of Trypanosoma cruzi infection using bioluminescence imaging, revealing chronic tissue pathology and motor dysfunction not seen in mice.

Trypanosoma cruzi persisters that survive benznidazole treatment in vitro and in vivo are in a transient non-proliferative state.

This study identifies benznidazole-treated Trypanosoma cruzi persisters as transient non-proliferative parasites, not localized to specific tissues, and suggests their survival may involve DNA damage response or pre-existing non-replicative states.

Enteric nervous system regeneration and functional cure of experimental digestive Chagas disease with trypanocidal chemotherapy

This study shows that curative treatment with benznidazole at 6 weeks post-infection reverses digestive Chagas disease symptoms in mice, while delayed treatment leads to irreversible damage.

Nitroimidazopyrazinones with oral activity against tuberculosis and Chagas disease in mouse models of infection

This paper evaluates nitroimidazopyrazinone derivatives for antitubercular and antiparasitic activity, showing selectivity against M. tuberculosis and efficacy against T. cruzi in mouse models.

In vivo analysis of Trypanosoma cruzi persistence foci at single cell resolution

This study identifies skeletal muscle and skin as major sites of Trypanosoma cruzi persistence in chronic murine infections using high-sensitivity imaging.

Intracellular DNA replication and differentiation of Trypanosoma cruzi is asynchronous within individual host cells in vivo at all stages of infection

This study uses genetically modified parasites to show that T. cruzi replication and differentiation are asynchronous within host cells throughout infection.

Immunity conferred by drug-cured experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infections is long-lasting and cross-strain protective

This study shows that drug-cured Trypanosoma cruzi infections in mice provide long-lasting, cross-strain immunity against re-infection, outperforming recombinant vaccines.

A single dose of antibody-drug conjugate cures a stage 1 model of African trypanosomiasis.

This paper demonstrates that a single dose of an antibody-drug conjugate targeting the trypanosome receptor HpHbR completely cures a stage 1 mouse model of African trypanosomiasis.