Different transcriptomic responses after moderate and severe heat shock in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes

Upregulated gene transcripts were enriched in pathways related to degradation of steroids, hemoglobin, gluconate, and phosphonate and to sulfonate compound metabolism, whereas downregulated gene transcripts were also enriched in pathways related to amino acid degradation, acetyl-CoA biosynthesis, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, pentose-phosphate pathway, nucleotide metabolism, tricarboxylic acid cycle, fatty acid degradation, and degradation of cholesterol and other steroids.

In addition, the expression pattern of different members of several HSP gene families varied, with some being upregulated, as expected, and some remaining unchanged, consistent with the function of cognate HSPs. Interestingly, some HSP gene family members were downregulated. The expression pattern of members of surface protein gene families, such as trans-sialidases, GP63, mucins, and mucin-associated proteins, also varied, although the physiological significance of these patterns remains unclear.

We conclude that T. cruzi epimastigotes are mostly prepared for a temperature increase to 37 ºC and show a standard eukaryotic response to a severe heat shock at 40 ºC.