Statins do not reduce the parasite burden during experimental <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> infection
Cardiomyopathy is the most common pathology associated with <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> infection. Reports that statins have both cardioprotective and trypanocidal activity have generated interest in their potential as a therapeutic treatment. Using a highly sensitive bioluminescent mouse model, we show that a 5-day treatment with statins has no significant impact on parasite load. The free systemic concentrations fail to reach the level required for potency. Hence, clinical trials to investigate the trypanocidal activity of statins lack experimental justification.
Authors
- Suresh B. Lakshminarayana (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9133-3147)
- Amanda Fortes Francisco (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3475-8130)
- Shiromani Jayawardhana (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3274-8294)
- Srinivasa P. S. Rao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7156-5725)
- John M. Kelly (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4305-5258)
- Francisco Olmo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9314-0026)
- Sarah Razzaq
- Chen Ying-Bo
Institutions
- University of London (GB)
- Novartis (Switzerland) (CH)
- Universidad de Granada (ES)
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (GB)
- Health Biomed (China) (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
- Published
- 2025-04-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1128/aac.00135-25
- Primary Topic
- Trypanosoma species research and implications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00