Chagas disease: host responses, parasite evasion and vaccine advances

Chagas disease is a parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. Although the host immune response has been extensively studied, important knowledge gaps remain, particularly regarding the complex and multifaceted immune evasion mechanisms employed by the parasite, both at the innate and adaptive levels. In recent years, multiple promising vaccine candidates have been developed, but further evaluation is needed across the different phases of clinical trials. Therefore, the aim of this review is to examine the host immune response to T. cruzi, the parasite’s immune evasion strategies and recent advances in vaccine development aimed at controlling infection.