Trypanosoma cruzi infection of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes: an in vitro model for drug screening for Chagas disease.

Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi , is an important global public health problem which, despite partial efficacy of benznidazole (Bz) in acute phase, urgently needs an effective treatment. Cardiotoxicity is a major safety concern for conduction of more accurate preclinical drug screening platforms. Human induced pluripotent stem cells derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM) are a reliable model to study genetic and infectious cardiac alterations and may improve drug development. Herein, we introduce hiPSC-CM as a suitable model to study T. cruzi heart infection and to predict the safety and efficacy of anti- T. cruzi drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]