Bz susceptibility and TcAKR expression in T. cruzi CL Brener and Nicaragua. (A) Effect of Bz on the survival of epimastigotes of T. cruzi CL Brener and Nicaragua. Parasite growth was monitored after 72 h of culture in the presence or absence of different Bz concentrations. A survival rate of 100% corresponds to the mean number of duplicate samples of untreated epimastigotes. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01, for results with CL Brener versus those with Nicaragua. (B) Analysis of TcAKR protein expression by Western blotting in T. cruzi CL Brener and Nicaragua. Western blot analysis of proteins derived from epimastigotes of CL Brener and Nicaragua T. cruzi strains was performed, as indicated, with mouse anti-recTcAKR polyclonal serum (right panel), rabbit anti-TcOYE N-terminal peptide polyclonal serum (left panel), and rabbit anti-recTcCyp19 polyclonal serum (both panels). TcCyp19 protein was used as a loading control.