Silberstein, E., Serna, C., Fragoso, S.P., Nagarkatti, R., and Debrabant, A.
Notes: Infection progression remains poorly characterized in Chagas disease, a life-long infection caused by T. cruzi. To understand the development of the disease, a bioluminescent imaging system for live mice infected with NanoLuc-labeled transgenic T. cruzi was developed. Initial expression of NanoLuc luciferase was determined in TcCOL cells and cell lysates using the Nano-Glo Live Cell assay and the Nano-Glo Luciferase Assay System, respectively. Luminescence could be detected as early as 14 days post-infection and was focused in the abdomen. Further, luminescence remained detectable for up to 222 days post infection, while parasite number in blood decreased after 21 days to the limit of detection. (5110)