Trypanosoma cruzi modulates gene expression of plasma membrane repair-related proteins

•Trypanosoma cruzi modulates expression of plasma membrane repair-related genes.•The number of host cell interacting parasites correlates to fold change.•Rapamycin treatment impaired T. cruzi driven gene expression.

Plasma membrane injury and repair is particularly prevalent in muscle cells. Here, we aimed to verify dysferlin, acid sphingomyelinase and transcriptional factor EB gene expression during Trypanosoma cruzi infection in vitro and in vivo. Our results showed that the parasite modulates gene expression of these proteins in a way dependent on the number of plasma membrane interacting parasites and in a rapamycin-sensitive manner.

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