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<i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i>, the causative agent of Chagas disease, is a
genuine parasite with a tremendous genetic diversity and a complex life
cycle. Scientists have studied this disease for more than 100 years, and
Chagas disease drug discovery has been a mainstay due to the absence of
an effective treatment. Technical advances in several areas have
contributed to a better understanding of the complex biology and life
cycle of this parasite with the aim of designing the ideal profile of
both drug and therapeutic options to treat CD. Here, we present <i>T.
cruzi</i> Arequipa strain (MHOM/Pe/2011/Arequipa) as an interesting tool
for CD drug discovery. We have characterized acute-phase parasitaemia
and chronic-phase tropism in BALB/c mice, and we have determined the
<i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> benznidazole resistance profile of
the different morphological forms of this strain. The tropism of this
strain makes it an interesting tool for the screening of new compounds
with a potential anti-Chagas profile for the treatment of this disease.</div>