Trypanosoma Cruzi Paper

Trypanosoma cruzi Paper
For a single-celled organism, Trypanosoma cruzi has caused an incredible amount of damage and death throughout Latin America and now even some parts of the United States. Its vector is referred to as the “assassin bug” because of its lethal and very surreptitious methods of infection and diffusion into the human body. The most common result of infection from this parasite is Chagas Disease, which can have serious implications for the heart and gastrointestinal system. The cure for this parasite has eluded scientists and experts for years because of T. Cruzi’s very clever life cycle. It has the ability to transform between three different forms, which makes it very difficult to cure. The parasite thrives best in substandard living conditions.  
The anatomy and physiology of T. Cruzi is very unique and complex, especially for a single-celled organism. It is heterotrophic and able to reproduce asexually, which becomes a critical factor in its dispersion into the bloodstream of humans. The parasite transforms back and forth from three different forms. Each serves its own purpose and can reappear when needed. The first form, called trypomastigote, doesn’t actually infect any tissue. It has a long body with centralized nucleus and an undulating membrane that runs along the exterior of the parasite. The next form is called epimastigote and while it is smaller than the trypomastigote, it is certainly just as powerful. Its main function is to survive when the parasite travels through the vector’s harsh intestines. The final form is referred to as amastigote. This is the smallest form, but the most harmful because they infect smooth muscle tissue, especially cardiac cells, and they multiply while being released into the bloodstream. T. Cruzi receives its energy from unlikely sources, which is another component to its makeup that intrigues and confuses scientists. It receives many nutrients from acid calcisomes and reservosomes, which is very rare...