Aims

To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

___________________________________________

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Characterization of a gene encoding alcohol dehydrogenase in benznidazole-susceptible and -resistant populations of Trypanosoma cruzi
Acta Tropica Volume 111, Issue 1, July 2009, Pages 56-63

Alcohol dehydrogenases (ADH) are a class of oxidoreductases that catalyse the reversible oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde. In the human parasite Trypanosoma cruzi the TcADH gene was identified through microarray analysis as having reduced transcription in an in vitro induced benznidazole (BZ)-resistant population. In the present study, we have extended these results by characterizing the TcADH gene from 11 strains of T. cruzi that were either susceptible or naturally resistant to benznidazole and nifurtimox or had in vivo selected or in vitro induced resistance to BZ.

The data presented here show that the TcADH enzyme has a decreased level of expression in the in vitro induced BZ-resistant T. cruzi population, a situation that has not been observed in the in vivo selected BZ-resistant and naturally resistant strains.


Request Reprint E-Mail: silvane@cpqrr.fiocruz.br
________________________________________________________
at