The peptidases of Trypanosoma cruzi: Digestive enzymes, virulence factors, and mediators of autophagy and programmed cell death

► The Trypanosoma cruzi Genome Project predicts peptidases from all catalytic classes. ► However, the chymotrypsin and pepsin families seem to be absent. ► The major cysteine proteinase, cruzipain, is a virulence factor for the parasite. ► Two S9 serine peptidases are also potential targets for chemotherapy. ► T. cruzi has two M32 peptidases, absent so far in all other eukaryotic genomes.