MAPK3 and infection: Some researchers studied the MAPK cascade activation and role in Chagas disease MEK/ERK pathway increase in nervous system models by the interaction of the host cells with surface molecules of T. cruzi as members of the multigene family of trans-sialidases45,46, while the inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation produced a significant decrease in invasion and infection by this parasite in epithelial and cardiac muscle cells47 and in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells48.