A number of glycoconjugates, including glycolipids and glycoproteins, participate in the process of host-cell invasion by Trypanosoma cruzi
and one of the most important carbohydrates involved on this interaction is sialic acid. It is known that parasite trans-sialidase participates withsialic acid in a coordinated fashion in the initial stages of invasion. Given the importance of these sialoglycoconjugates,this review sets out various possible biological models for the interaction between the parasite and mammalian cells that possess a sialylated receptor/ligand system.
