Browsing by Autor "Luciana Basma"

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A specific, stable, and accessible LAMP assay targeting the HSP70 gene of Trypanosoma cruzi
(2025) Sneider Alexander Gutierrez Guarnizo; Luciana Basma; Shirley Equilia; Beth Jessy Condori; Edith Málaga; Siena Defazio; Eugenio Arteaga; Jean Karla Velarde; Mateo Obregón; Anshule Takyar
Diagnostic delays prevent most Chagas disease patients from receiving timely therapy during the acute phase when treatment is effective. qPCR-based diagnostic methods provide high sensitivity during this phase but require specialized equipment and complex protocols. More simple and cost-effective tools are urgently needed to optimize early Chagas disease diagnosis in low-income endemic regions. Here, we present a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) that targets a highly conserved region in the HSP70 gene of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. This assay demonstrates species-specific amplification across multiple parasite genetic lineages while maintaining stability after 2 hours of incubation and at least 8 months of storage at -20°C. Moreover, the assay is at least 12 times less expensive than the TaqMan qPCR that is currently routinely used for acute Chagas diagnostics. Population-based validation in 100 infants born to Chagas-positive mothers in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, yielded a specificity of 100% and sensitivity exceeding 77% when compared to a TaqMan qPCR that targets satellite DNA. This cost-effective assay holds promise for large-scale diagnosis of Chagas disease in endemic regions with limited resources.
A specific, stable, and accessible LAMP assay targeting the HSP70 gene of Trypanosoma cruzi
(American Society for Microbiology, 2025) Sneider Alexander Gutierrez Guarnizo; Beth Jessy Condori; Luciana Basma; Shirley Equilia; Edith Málaga; Siena Defazio; Eugenio Arteaga; Jean Karla Velarde; Mateo Obregón; Anshule Takyar
Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a life-threatening illness that disproportionately affects resource-limited communities. Congenital Chagas disease, if diagnosed early, presents a unique opportunity for intervention, as treatment in newborns is highly effective with minimal side effects. However, early diagnosis is hindered by the high cost and limited availability of current molecular diagnostic methods in endemic regions. Our study introduces a simple, low-cost, and highly specific LAMP assay targeting the HSP70 gene of T. cruzi. This assay is user-friendly, stable under varying storage and incubation conditions, and designed for accessibility in underserved areas. By providing a detailed, open-access protocol and primers, we aim to facilitate the widespread adoption of this diagnostic assay, enabling earlier detection and treatment. This assay lays the groundwork for a new approach to Chagas disease management, potentially reducing the spread of Chagas disease and improving public health outcomes in vulnerable populations globally.
Maternal Trypanosoma cruzi infection is associated with significant placental remodeling regardless of vertical transmission
(2026) Sneider Alexander Gutierrez Guarnizo; Jaime So; Carolina Duque; Jean Karla Velarde; Emily Judith Arteaga; Luciana Basma; Clariza Roxana; Liseth Roque; Jessy Beth Condori; Martin Obregon
Chagas disease is a major protozoan infection in the Americas, causing approximately 12,000 deaths each year. It is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, and can be transmitted transplacentally, leading to congenital Chagas disease, a silent route that carries substantial risk for newborns. However, the mechanisms underlying congenital Chagas transmission are poorly understood. Here, we evaluated whether T. cruzi infection alters the placental microenvironment and systemic physiology, and whether such alterations are associated with congenital transmission. Integrating bulk RNA sequencing, proteomics, and spatial transcriptomics, we show that T. cruzi infection elicits profound molecular remodeling in both placenta and peripheral blood, regardless of transmission status. Transmitting mothers exhibit a distinct transcriptional signature enriched for inflammatory and tissue-remodeling pathways. Notably, peripheral blood profiles mirrored some placental alterations. A panel of inflammatory serum proteins showed promising predictive potential for transmission risk, with implications for prenatal monitoring. Together, these findings support a fundamental shift in the conceptual framework of congenital Chagas disease, from a transmission-centered model to one that recognizes infection-driven placental damage as a pathological spectrum and identifies peripheral blood as a promising, non-invasive source of predictive biomarkers for adverse pregnancy outcomes. This framework motivates the further application of single-cell-resolution approaches to refine models of congenital Chagas pathogenesis and the systematic analysis of maternal peripheral blood during pregnancy to enable early risk stratification and the development of predictive tools for adverse outcomes.