Bioassays for anti-Trypanosoma cruzi drug screening Platform

Fiocruz’s Network Technological Platforms
The PlaBio Tc is equipped to carry out in vitro and in vivo tests to screen compounds (natural and synthetic) with activity against T. cruzi. a) Automated test to evaluate the in vitro activity of the action of natural compounds/extracts against amastigote and trypomastigote forms from Tulahuen T. cruzi strain, transfected with the Beta-galactosidase enzyme. Screening and determination of the dose that inhibits parasitic growth by 50% (IC50) b) Automated test, using the vital dye Alamar Blue, to evaluate the toxicity of compounds with anti-T. cruzi activity on mammalian cells (L929). Determination of the dose that inhibits cell growth by 50% (CC50) c) Determination of selectivity index (SI) (CC50/IC50) for selection of compounds that will be tested in in vivo assays, with SI cutoff ≥ 50; d) In vivo test, acute phase, using mice infected with T. cruzi Y (medium resistance) and Colombian (high resistance to Benznidazole) strains.
This platform is located in FIOCRUZ – Minas Gerais.