João Durães-Oliveira

Dr. João Durães-Oliveira

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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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João Durães-OliveiraJoão Durães-Oliveira
João Durães-Oliveira
JPJoana Palma-Marques
Joana Palma-Marques
Claudia Jassica Gonçalves MorenoClaudia Jassica Gonçalves Moreno
Claudia Jassica Gonçalves Moreno
Maria Armanda RodriguesMaria Armanda Rodrigues
Maria Armanda Rodrigues
MMMarta Monteiro
Marta Monteiro
Gabriela Santos-GomesGabriela Santos-Gomes
Gabriela Santos-Gomes
Chagas disease (CD) is a vector-borne Neglected Zoonotic Disease (NZD) caused by a flagellate protozoan, Trypanosoma cruzi, that affects various mammalian species across America, including humans and domestic animals. However, due to an increase in population movements and new routes of transmission, T. cruzi infection is presently considered a worldwide health concern, no longer restricted to endemic countries. Dogs play a major role in the domestic cycle by acting very efficiently as reservoirs and allowing the perpetuation of parasite transmission in endemic areas. Despite the significant progress made in recent years, still there is no vaccine against human and animal disease, there are few drugs available for the treatment of human CD, and there is no standard protocol for the treatment of canine CD. In this review, we highlight human and canine Chagas Disease in its different dimensions and interconnections. Dogs, which are considered to be the most important peridomestic reservoir and sentinel for the transmission of T. cruzi infection in a community, develop CD that is clinically similar to human CD. Therefore, an integrative approach, based on the One Health concept, bringing together the advances in genomics, immunology, and epidemiology can lead to the effective development of vaccines, new treatments, and innovative control strategies to tackle CD.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Maria Armanda RodriguesMaria Armanda Rodrigues
Maria Armanda Rodrigues
JWJuliana Inês Weber
Juliana Inês Weber
João Durães-OliveiraJoão Durães-Oliveira
João Durães-Oliveira
Claudia Jassica Gonçalves MorenoClaudia Jassica Gonçalves Moreno
Claudia Jassica Gonçalves Moreno
MFMicheli Ferla
Micheli Ferla
Gabriela Santos-GomesGabriela Santos-Gomes
Gabriela Santos-Gomes
Trypanosomatids constitute a family of parasitic protozoa that cause significant human and veterinary diseases that are classified as neglected zoonotic diseases (NZDs). In a rapidly evolving world, these diseases have the potential to become a world health problem no longer solely associated with low-income countries. Therefore, the development of new strategies to control and restrain the dissemination of trypanosomatids is imperative. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous group of membrane-enclosed vesicles released by prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. They can be found in diverse body fluids that carry biologically active molecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates. EVs participate in cell-to-cell communication by delivering their cargo content to recipient cells. Thus, EVs play a role in regulating normal physiological processes, including immune surveillance and tissue repair, as well as being involved in pathological conditions, like cancer. In recent years, EVs have attracted significant attention from the scientific community, mainly due to their immune regulatory properties. Therefore, this review examines the role played by trypanosomatid-derived EVs in leishmaniases and trypanosomiasis, highlighting their biological role in host–parasite communication and exploring their potential future applications in controlling NZDs, especially those caused by trypanosomatids.