The ChagaSpace Project started in 1995 with the objective of finding a cure for the Chagas disease. The project involves 9 participant institutions from the United States, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile. To find this medicine, the research group studies the enzymes (proteins) of Latin-American plants. In order to fulfil this studies, it is necessary the Crystallization process of proteins and the completion of some experiments in the space, which are achieved thanks to the support of the NASA.

The goal is to find, in these plants, a product that permits to inhibit those proteins that allow them to survive to the Trypanosoma Cruzi parasite.

Besides, it is necessary to find various types of different medicines, since it is probable that some medicines provoke allergies in some people. For this reason, the experiments are not only carried out with plants, but also with some insects.

Once some laboratory tasks have been done, a possible antidote is prepared with various ingredients. To prove the antidote, its data is entered into a computer system that knows the molecular structure of the enemy enzyme and then, the computer generates a simulation of what would happen when treating the Chagas disease with the proposed antidote.

More Information:

• The ChagaSpace Project
      • The Crystallization Process
• Participating Institutions
• General Proposal
• Specific Proposals
• Implementation Plan
• Last Reports