**9. Conclusion**

Numerous studies have been performed with the aim to understand the molecular basis of the survival of *T. cruzi* in its host. *T. cruzi* is an intracellular parasite that needs to surpass different defense mechanisms and a hostile environment to persist inside host cells. To achieve this goal, this protozoan has developed a wide array of strategies that target different mechanisms and molecules in the host. One of the mechanisms that *T. cruzi* modulates is apoptosis. It has been shown that the parasite has the ability to induce or inhibit apoptosis of different cells. The profound knowledge of these targets will allow the development of strategies capable of interfering with the development of the disease. It remains to be elucidated which signal transduction pathway or pathways are responsible for establishing this relationship.
