Peptides Selected Using Phage Library Variants, Effectively Inhibit Trypanosoma cruzi Infection

Four peptide sequences characterized by high content of hydrophobic, charged, and polar amino acids were obtained from 23 clones of M13 phage. Peptides P2 and P4 exhibited highest binding affinity for immobilized trypomastigotes. The inhibitory effects of peptides seemed to be due to blockade of certain epitopes on T. cruzi surface proteins responsible for interactions with the respective receptors of host cells.