Our
research program focuses upon two major areas dealing with the
molecular mechanism of chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC) development
in response to acute infection with Trypanosoma cruzi, and the development of vaccination approaches for control of T. cruzi. In our first program, we use in situ
expression systems to identify and investigate (i) the parasite
molecules that might be essential for growth, development and survival
of T. cruzi, and (ii) the mechanism of changes in gene
regulation and signaling cascade activities in host in response to acute
infection that contribute to the aberration of heart cytoskeleton and
mitochondrial dysfunction leading to the development of CCC. Our second
program focuses upon screening the T. cruzi genome and identification of vaccine candidates. In previous studies, we have shown the usefulness of T. cruzi
secretory and GPI-anchored proteins in elicitation of protective immune
responses and partial protection from challenge infection. We are now
exploiting the computational and molecular approaches for the
entification of the secretory and membrane-associated proteins of T. cruzi.
The usefulness of these genes as vaccine candidates will be tested in
collaboration with other laboratories. The goal of these studies is to
develop optimal vaccine cocktail that provides maximal protective
immunity to T. cruzi in a variety of host strains.
Search PubMed for Dr. Garg's publications