The project aims to improve the control of congenital Chagas disease (CCD) by identifying a profile of biomarkers highly associated with congenital transmission of T. cruzi and detectable in the blood circulation of T. cruziinfected pregnant women. We propose to identify a profile of biomarkers comprising genetic single nucleotide polymorphism and differential expression of genes previously identified as candidates, as well as to investigate new biomarkers based on extracellular vesicles (EVs), microRNAs (miRNA), immunological markers and molecular features of the parasite. EVs and miRNA are emerging as important regulators of hostpathogen interactions. We will study the modulatory effect of EVs and miRNA derived either form the parasite itself or from the placenta (mainly from trophoblasts, the cells that constitute the placental barrier) on the placental T. cruzi infection and immune response and in parallel make the profileof these EVs and miRNA by proteomic and molecular approaches. Parasite and/or host EVs and miRNA will then be studied quantitatively and qualitatively in the plasma of T. cruziinfected women having or not transmitted the parasite to their baby. We will also seek for additional biomarkers related to the maternal immune response, to the biological features and the genotype of the parasite they harbour and to the parasite load.This project takes advantage of the capacity of the Argentinean and the Spanish teams to collect biologicalsamples from T. cruzi infected pregnant women and their newborns / infants (necessary to identify those thatare congenitallyinfected, and thereby the mothers that are transmitting or not the parasite). The Chilean teamis specialized in the study of placental infection with T. cruzi, the Uruguyan and the Argentinean teams arespecialists in molecular biology of T. cruzi, and the Belgian one in immunological studies. Our consortiumcomprises all skills needed to achieve this project.

enfermedad infecciosa
transmisión congénita de la enfermedad de Chagas
mujer embarazada
recién nacido
biomarcador
miRNA
microRNA
miARN
microARN
exosoma
enfoque proteómico
enfoque molecular

Acción Estratégica en Salud (AES)