Role of Açaí (Euterpe oleracea) in Modulating the Immune Response During Experimental Oral Infection with Trypanosoma cruzi

Abstract

Oral infection is now the main route of Chagas disease transmission in endemic countries, with açaí (Euterpe oleracea) being the primary food involved in Brazil. However, the role of açaí in parasite–host interaction remains largely unexplored. This study assessed the effect of açaí inoculum on experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infection. BALB/c mice were orally infected with metacyclic trypomastigotes in RPMI or açaí. No difference in survival was observed. Tissue parasite load showed higher gastric parasitism in the RPMI group on day 5 after infection. Proteomic analysis of the açaí group revealed increased levels of cytoskeletal keratins and mucins, along with decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines and markers of tissue repair, indicating modulation of gastric inflammation. Both infected groups exhibited higher levels of gastrointestinal proteins (acid chitinase, gastrocin 1, trefoil) associated with mucosal protection and parasite clearance. These findings suggest that oral infection with açaí occurs more subtly, possibly due to decreased gastric inflammation, and highlight potential biomarkers for oral Chagas disease.