Exploring the role of host-parasite genotypes in the congenital transmission of Chagas disease: an emergent infectious disease in Europe

Chagas disease (CD) is a parasitic, systemic and chronic disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. Approximately 30% of chronically infected people develop cardiac, digestive, neurological or mixed alterations.

CD affects 7 million people worldwide, mainly in endemic areas of 21 continental Latin American countries, where T. cruzi is mainly a vector-borne disease.

In non-endemic regions, a major role is played by congenital (mother-to-fetus) transmission, leading CD to become an emerging disease in Europe and other non-endemic regions.

It is increasingly clear that more efforts are needed at the basic research level to improve our understanding of the molecular and clinical aspects of this route of transmission.

Understanding the genetic bases of the interaction between the host and the parasite could shed light into the molecular mechanisms behind congenital transmission.

In this project, we aim to use state-of-the-art genomic techniques to understand the relationship between T. cruzi genotype and the host genotype in congenital transmission of CD.

Identifying the factors governing this matter will not only help to better understand the mechanisms behind the diseases, but it could also help to target the group of infected pregnant women at higher risk of transmission.

We will examine the parasite and the host genotypes in blood samples from infected pregnant women transmitting and not transmitting the infection.

We will assess parasite diversity by developing a new strategy for T. cruzi genetic typing based on the MinION, a portable long-read DNA sequencer. For the genotyping of the host, we will use genome-wide SNP arrays.

We will use multivariate analysis for determining putative relationships between host and parasite genotypes and congenital transmission of CD.

This project will provide the first attempt at determining genetic causes of congenital CD considering both, host and parasite genotypes by applying the state-of-the-art genomic techniques.