How the immune system protects tissues during Chagas disease
Official title: Immunoregulation of cellular immunity and tissue homeostasis during Chagas' disease
Funded at National Research Council of Argentina · NIH-11319791 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work explores how key immune cells fight the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite and help keep organs healthy in people with Chagas disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | National Research Council of Argentina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cordoba, Argentina) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $133,400 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI169482-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11319791 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with confirmed T. cruzi infection—including recent infections and chronic patients, especially those with heart or digestive symptoms—would be the most relevant candidates for related clinical follow-up or sample donation.
✕Less likely to help
People without Chagas infection or those with irreversible late-stage organ damage are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how CD8+ T cells (the immune cells that kill infected cells) form, expand, and function during T. cruzi infection and how regulatory T cells limit damage to tissues. The team will use laboratory infection models, analyses of immune cells and their metabolism, and tissue studies to see what supports strong, lasting cellular immunity while preserving organ health. Experiments will examine the interplay between effector and regulatory pathways to identify barriers to protective immunity. The goal is to translate those findings into ideas for therapies or vaccines that balance parasite control with protection from immune-driven damage.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to boost protective immunity or prevent organ damage from Chagas disease.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have established that CD8+ T cells matter for controlling T. cruzi, but targeting their metabolic needs and the role of regulatory T cells in protecting tissues is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
National Research Council of Argentina
Cordoba, Argentina Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Acosta Rodriguez, Eva V — National Research Council of Argentina
- Study coordinator: Acosta Rodriguez, Eva V
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Antibody-boosted immune responses in Chagas disease
A study in people with Chagas disease examines how antibody-producing B cells influence infection and disease outcome.
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Blocking signals that help the Chagas parasite survive in the heart
This project looks at whether stopping the signals that turn injury-related ATP into immune-suppressing adenosine could help people with Chagas-related heart disease.
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Understanding immune responses in Chagas disease
This study looks at how the immune system fights Chagas disease and focuses on a type of immune cell called CD8+ T cells, hoping to find ways to improve treatments for patients by understanding how these cells work and what challenges they face.
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Investigating how purinergic signaling affects Chagas disease
This study is looking at how the immune system and inflammation affect Chagas disease, especially how certain molecules might influence heart problems in patients, with the goal of finding new ways to help improve treatment for those dealing with this condition.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.