FIG 3.

Cellular effects of VT-1161 in T. cruzi Tulahuen-infected cardiomyocytes. Cardiomyocyte monolayers were exposed to green fluorescent protein-expressing trypomastigotes (10 parasites per cell) for 24 h and then treated with VT-1161 or with the corresponding volumes of DMSO. (A to C) Fluorescence microscopic observations of T. cruzi inside cardiomyocytes treated with DMSO (control) (A) or with 10 nM (B) and 25 nM (C) VT-1161 at 72 h after infection. Green, T. cruzi amastigotes; blue, cardiomyocyte nuclei; red, cardiomyocyte actin myofibrils. (D) Dose-dependent clearance of the parasite. The infection was quantified by determination of the fluorescence, indicated as relative fluorescence units (RFU), at 72 h. The experiments were performed in triplicate, and the results are presented as means ± SEs.