Effects of human defensin-α1 on trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes in vitro

Human defensin-α1 is a biologically active peptide exhibiting a dose-dependent trypanocidal effect in vitro against trypomastigotes and amastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi line Tulahuen. This effect is determined by fragmentation of parasite DNA reducing the capacity of passaged T. cruzi to invade HeLa cells. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.