Transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of quiescent epimastigotes as a resource for investigating Trypanosoma cruzi persistence.

Olmo, F.; Hesketh, A.; Hage, H.; Monneuse, J.-M.; Taylor, M. C.; Costa, F. C.; DaSilva, C.; Bequet, F.; Escudie, F.; Mercer, D.; Saliou, A.; Chatelain, E.; Kelly, J. M.; Abi Ghanem, J.

doi:10.1101/2025.09.09.675056

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.09.09.675056

Transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of quiescent epimastigotes as a resource for investigating Trypanosoma cruzi persistence.

Olmo, F.·Hesketh, A.·Hage, H.·Monneuse, J.-M.·Taylor, M. C.·Costa, F. C.·DaSilva, C.·Bequet, F.·Escudie, F.·Mercer, D.·Saliou, A.·Chatelain, E.·Kelly, J. M.·Abi Ghanem, J.

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Abstract

Chagas disease is caused by infection with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Despite triggering a strong immune response, infections are typically life-long and can result in severe cardiac and/or digestive tract pathology. Current drugs have limited efficacy, and treatment failure is a common outcome. Eliminating a non-replicating T. cruzi sub-population that can persist after therapy has been a key challenge for the drug-development community. Here, we describe the transcriptome and proteome profiles of quiescent epimastigote forms of the parasite isolated from exponentially growing cultures on the basis of reduced turnover of transiently-induced red fluorescent protein. This quiescent sub-population was characterised by down-regulation of genes/proteins involved in translation, metabolism, mitochondrial function and DNA replication, and by up-regulation of proteins that promote exit from the cell-cycle in other organisms. These data represent a resource that can be exploited to dissect the mechanistic basis of quiescence and to refine the drug-development screening cascade.

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Olmo, F., Hesketh, A., Hage, H., Monneuse, J.-M., Taylor, M. C., Costa, F. C., DaSilva, C., Bequet, F., Escudie, F., Mercer, D., Saliou, A., Chatelain, E., Kelly, J. M., Abi Ghanem, J.. 2025-09-09. Transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of quiescent epimastigotes as a resource for investigating Trypanosoma cruzi persistence.. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.09.09.675056

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