Almost everything about insects called kissing bugs is revolting, from the insidious way they bite people's faces at night to drink their blood while they sleep to the way they spread disease through their poop.
Some carry a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi that causes Chagas disease, a leading cause of disability and premature death in the Americas. Left untreated, Chagas disease can cause serious heart and digestive problems. It's showing up more and more in patients in the United States.
"During its lifecycle, the parasite encounters changes in acidity, temperature, nutrient availability and other conditions. It needs to survive somehow. So what we studied is how the parasite senses those microenvironmental changes and triggers reactions to transform," Lander said. "The idea is to better understand the biology of this parasite to find out which proteins in the cell are good targets for drug treatment," she said. "If we can prevent the parasite from transforming, we can kill it and also stop the transmission of disease.""The disease affects as many as 8 million people in rural areas of Latin America," Lander said. "It's called a 'silent disease.' Most people who are infected by it don't know.
Kissing bugs are often found in older or poorly constructed homes. Sometimes they live in thatched roofs.
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