Trypanosoma cruzi Infection and Host Lipid Metabolism
Figure 2
Possible mechanisms of T. cruzi cruzipain cleaving Apo A-I in HDL. T. cruzi cruzipain is expressed in the parasitic surface as well as in the lysosomal-like structure/reservosome. Both cruzipain fractions are required to produce the full Apo A-I truncation profile seen in T. cruzi infected human patients. This implies that Apo A-I within the HDL complex may be (a) truncated during the infection process on the parasitic surface and also (b) endocytosed by T. cruzi and processed in the reservosome for possible lipid utilization.
