Congenital Trypanosoma cruzi infected mice. Placental transcriptomics

Trypanosoma cruzi isolates naturally adapted to congenital infection display a unique strategy of transplacental transmission. Transcriptomic analysis of placental response to parasite passage revealed that while the virulent strain modulates a large number of placental genes, VT strains modulate one tenth and the changes are mainly concentrated in the suppression of genes related to cell division and replication and enhancement of a small set of immunomodulatory genes leading to anti inflammatory responses and tolerance. This response different to the one observed within the placentas of mice infected with the virulent strains, where a strong pro inflammatory immune response is stimulated. The placental response described here regarding the passage of the maternal fetal interphase by VT isolates is unique and postulates these isolates as interesting natural models.