MutT heterologous expression did not alter <i>T. cruzi</i> growth but enhanced survival against H₂O₂.

(A) Amplification of a 112-bp fragment of MutT from transfected parasite total RNA (MutT +) and positive controls (E. coli total DNA). pROCK +: total RNA from parasites transfected with the pROCK empty vector. MutT - and pROCK -: RT-PCR negative control without reverse transcriptase; - control: PCR control without template DNA. (B) WT and MutT parasites were grown in LIT medium and followed for 6 days until the stationary phase. Alternatively, WT and MutT were grown in LIT medium containing different concentrations of H2O2 for 3 days and then counted (C). Experiments were performed in triplicate. The survival percentage was measured in relation to untreated cells, and the bars represent the SD (*** P<0.001, * P<0.05, unpaired t test).