A significant amount of resources, from numerous scientific institutions across the Gulf Coast, have been directed towards studying Chagas Disease. Researchers are implementing interventions to disrupt maternal-to-child transmission and developing a therapeutic vaccine that can be used in conjunction with antiparasitic drugs. Research on CD was led by a consortium of institutions, including the Carlos Slim Health Institute, the National School of Tropical Medicine and the Sabin Vaccine Institute. 

Tulane University

Georgetown University

Research and development to produce new or improved diagnostics, drugs and vaccines are needed. Two schools of tropical medicine, the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and the Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, have collaborated with the "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi" Regional Research Center of the Autonomous University of Yucatan. 

Research & Development

Chagas disease (CD) is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted to humans by insect vectors. 

Chagas Disease

Hotez, P. J., Bottazzi, M. E., Dumonteil, E., &amp; Buekens, P. (2015). The Gulf of Mexico: A “Hot Zone” for Neglected Tropical Diseases? PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 9(2). doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0003481

The Gulf of Mexico: A "Hot Zone" for Tropical Diseases?

Vaccine diplomacy, or joint cooperation for vaccine development between nations, has the potential to develop therapeutics to treat NTDs. Additionally, relationships between the US and Latin American countries will provide scientific institutions and local governments with accurate data that relays the distribution of tropical diseases. Thus, key interventions can be developed and implemented in disproportionately affected regions. 


Vaccine Diplomacy

Studying Chagas Disease

Under the leadership of Dr. Hotez & Dr. Bottazzi, the center promotes the development of vaccines and therapeutics for NTDs while encouraging vaccine diplomacy between nations. 
- Under the Human Hookworm Vaccine Initiative (HHVI), a vaccine for human hookworm infections is entering phase 2 clinical trials. 
- Vaccine for intestinal schistosomiasis is entering phase 2 clinical trials
- First therapeutic vaccine for Chagas Disease is in phase 1 clinical trials
- Designing vaccines for emerging coronaviruses. 

Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development 

The chronic phase of CD, which can last for several decades, may result in cardiac and/or gastrointestinal complications. CD can be treated with antiparasitic medications or symptomatic therapies that respond to the physiological effects of an infection.

Stages of Disease

Chagas disease has been reported as more than 1 million cases in Mexico. The highest prevalence occurs in Oaxaca and Chiapas. In Yucatan the prevalence is approximately one percent; these triatomine vectors (kissing bugs) have been linked to dogs, chickens and vegetation that are hospitable environments for these bugs. The rate of T. cruzi vector-borne transmission has been estimated at approximately one human infection per 900–4,000 contacts with triatomines. Within rural Mayan societies on the Yucatan peninsula, T. cruzi infections have been reported among mothers and their offspring. This suggests both congenital and vector-borne transmission.

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