Fig. (4).

Possible effects of trypanosome POP activity in host. Collagen degradation by POPTc80 can facilitate T. cruzi migration through ECM. Activated immune cells release MMPs that amplify collagen degradation, and together with POP, generate chemotactic peptides, increasing leukocyte recruitment. POPTc80 can hydrolyze collagen present in basal lamina, contributing to trypomastigote dissemination in the blood and lymphatic system. POPTc80 can be involved in cell signaling that promotes T. cruzi invasion into host cells. POPTb released into the plasma by T. brucei can hydrolyze bioactive peptides and, depending upon the substrate, can act together with other parasite proteases such as OPB [89, 104]. Adapted from [115].