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Tom A, Kumar NP, Kumar A, Saini P. Interactions between Leishmania parasite and sandfly: a review. Parasitol Res 2023; 123:6. [PMID: 38052752 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08043-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis transmission cycles are maintained and sustained in nature by the complex crosstalk of the Leishmania parasite, sandfly vector, and the mammalian hosts (human, as well as zoonotic reservoirs). Regardless of the vast research on human host-parasite interaction, there persists a substantial knowledge gap on the parasite's development and modulation in the vector component. This review focuses on some of the intriguing aspects of the Leishmania-sandfly interface, beginning with the uptake of the intracellular amastigotes from an infected host to the development of the parasite within the sandfly's alimentary canal, followed by the transmission of infective metacyclic stages to another potential host. Upon ingestion of the parasite, the sandfly hosts an intricate repertoire of immune barriers, either to evade the parasite or to ensure its homeostatic coexistence with the vector gut microbiome. Sandfly salivary polypeptides and Leishmania exosomes are co-egested with the parasite inoculum during the infected vector bite. This has been attributed to the modulation of the parasite infection and subsequent clinical manifestation in the host. While human host-based studies strive to develop effective therapeutics, a greater understanding of the vector-parasite-microbiome and human host interactions could help us to identify the targets and to develop strategies for effectively preventing the transmission of leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anns Tom
- ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre (Field Station), Kottayam, Kerala, India
| | - N Pradeep Kumar
- ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre (Field Station), Kottayam, Kerala, India
| | - Ashwani Kumar
- ICMR- Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry, India
| | - Prasanta Saini
- ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre (Field Station), Kottayam, Kerala, India.
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Labbé F, Abdeladhim M, Abrudan J, Araki AS, Araujo RN, Arensburger P, Benoit JB, Brazil RP, Bruno RV, Bueno da Silva Rivas G, Carvalho de Abreu V, Charamis J, Coutinho-Abreu IV, da Costa-Latgé SG, Darby A, Dillon VM, Emrich SJ, Fernandez-Medina D, Figueiredo Gontijo N, Flanley CM, Gatherer D, Genta FA, Gesing S, Giraldo-Calderón GI, Gomes B, Aguiar ERGR, Hamilton JGC, Hamarsheh O, Hawksworth M, Hendershot JM, Hickner PV, Imler JL, Ioannidis P, Jennings EC, Kamhawi S, Karageorgiou C, Kennedy RC, Krueger A, Latorre-Estivalis JM, Ligoxygakis P, Meireles-Filho ACA, Minx P, Miranda JC, Montague MJ, Nowling RJ, Oliveira F, Ortigão-Farias J, Pavan MG, Horacio Pereira M, Nobrega Pitaluga A, Proveti Olmo R, Ramalho-Ortigao M, Ribeiro JMC, Rosendale AJ, Sant’Anna MRV, Scherer SE, Secundino NFC, Shoue DA, da Silva Moraes C, Gesto JSM, Souza NA, Syed Z, Tadros S, Teles-de-Freitas R, Telleria EL, Tomlinson C, Traub-Csekö YM, Marques JT, Tu Z, Unger MF, Valenzuela J, Ferreira FV, de Oliveira KPV, Vigoder FM, Vontas J, Wang L, Weedall GD, Zhioua E, Richards S, Warren WC, Waterhouse RM, Dillon RJ, McDowell MA. Genomic analysis of two phlebotomine sand fly vectors of Leishmania from the New and Old World. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0010862. [PMID: 37043542 PMCID: PMC10138862 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Phlebotomine sand flies are of global significance as important vectors of human disease, transmitting bacterial, viral, and protozoan pathogens, including the kinetoplastid parasites of the genus Leishmania, the causative agents of devastating diseases collectively termed leishmaniasis. More than 40 pathogenic Leishmania species are transmitted to humans by approximately 35 sand fly species in 98 countries with hundreds of millions of people at risk around the world. No approved efficacious vaccine exists for leishmaniasis and available therapeutic drugs are either toxic and/or expensive, or the parasites are becoming resistant to the more recently developed drugs. Therefore, sand fly and/or reservoir control are currently the most effective strategies to break transmission. To better understand the biology of sand flies, including the mechanisms involved in their vectorial capacity, insecticide resistance, and population structures we sequenced the genomes of two geographically widespread and important sand fly vector species: Phlebotomus papatasi, a vector of Leishmania parasites that cause cutaneous leishmaniasis, (distributed in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa) and Lutzomyia longipalpis, a vector of Leishmania parasites that cause visceral leishmaniasis (distributed across Central and South America). We categorized and curated genes involved in processes important to their roles as disease vectors, including chemosensation, blood feeding, circadian rhythm, immunity, and detoxification, as well as mobile genetic elements. We also defined gene orthology and observed micro-synteny among the genomes. Finally, we present the genetic diversity and population structure of these species in their respective geographical areas. These genomes will be a foundation on which to base future efforts to prevent vector-borne transmission of Leishmania parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Labbé
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Maha Abdeladhim
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jenica Abrudan
- Genomic Sciences & Precision Medicine Center (GSPMC), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Alejandra Saori Araki
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ricardo N. Araujo
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Peter Arensburger
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California, United States of America
| | - Joshua B. Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | | | - Rafaela V. Bruno
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Bueno da Silva Rivas
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Department of Biology and Center for Biological Clocks Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Vinicius Carvalho de Abreu
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Jason Charamis
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Voutes University Campus, Heraklion, Greece
- Molecular Entomology Lab, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Greece
| | - Iliano V. Coutinho-Abreu
- Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | | | - Alistair Darby
- Institute of Integrative Biology, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Viv M. Dillon
- Institute of Integrative Biology, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Scott J. Emrich
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | | | - Nelder Figueiredo Gontijo
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Catherine M. Flanley
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Derek Gatherer
- Division of Biomedical & Life Sciences, Faculty of Health & Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Fernando A. Genta
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sandra Gesing
- Discovery Partners Institute, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Gloria I. Giraldo-Calderón
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
- Dept. Ciencias Biológicas & Dept. Ciencias Básicas Médicas, Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia
| | - Bruno Gomes
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - James G. C. Hamilton
- Division of Biomedical & Life Sciences, Faculty of Health & Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Omar Hamarsheh
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
| | - Mallory Hawksworth
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Jacob M. Hendershot
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Paul V. Hickner
- USDA-ARS Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Kerrville, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jean-Luc Imler
- CNRS-UPR9022 Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire and Faculté des Sciences de la Vie-Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Panagiotis Ioannidis
- Molecular Entomology Lab, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Greece
| | - Emily C. Jennings
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Shaden Kamhawi
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Charikleia Karageorgiou
- Molecular Entomology Lab, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Greece
- Genomics Group – Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Biology Lab, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ryan C. Kennedy
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Andreas Krueger
- Medical Entomology Branch, Dept. Microbiology, Bundeswehr Hospital, Hamburg, Germany
- Medical Zoology Branch, Dept. Microbiology, Central Bundeswehr Hospital, Koblenz, Germany
| | - José M. Latorre-Estivalis
- Laboratorio de Insectos Sociales, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias, Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Petros Ligoxygakis
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Development and Genetics, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Patrick Minx
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Olivette, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Jose Carlos Miranda
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, CPqGM, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Michael J. Montague
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Ronald J. Nowling
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Fabiano Oliveira
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | - Marcio G. Pavan
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Transmissores de Hematozoários, IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcos Horacio Pereira
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Andre Nobrega Pitaluga
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Roenick Proveti Olmo
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Ramalho-Ortigao
- F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - José M. C. Ribeiro
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Andrew J. Rosendale
- Department of Biology and Center for Biological Clocks Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Mauricio R. V. Sant’Anna
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Steven E. Scherer
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | | | - Douglas A. Shoue
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | | | | | - Nataly Araujo Souza
- Laboratory Interdisciplinar em Vigilancia Entomologia em Diptera e Hemiptera, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Zainulabueddin Syed
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Samuel Tadros
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | | | - Erich L. Telleria
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Chad Tomlinson
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | | | - João Trindade Marques
- Department of Biology and Center for Biological Clocks Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Zhijian Tu
- Fralin Life Science Institute and Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Maria F. Unger
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Jesus Valenzuela
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Flávia V. Ferreira
- Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Karla P. V. de Oliveira
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Felipe M. Vigoder
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Biologia. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - John Vontas
- Molecular Entomology Lab, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Greece
- Pesticide Science Lab, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens Greece
| | - Lihui Wang
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Olivette, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Gareth D. Weedall
- Vector Biology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), Liverpool, United Kingdom
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Elyes Zhioua
- Vector Ecology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Stephen Richards
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Wesley C. Warren
- Department of Animal Sciences, Department of Surgery, Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Robert M. Waterhouse
- Department of Ecology & Evolution and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Rod J. Dillon
- Division of Biomedical & Life Sciences, Faculty of Health & Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Mary Ann McDowell
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
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Di-Blasi T, Telleria EL, Marques C, Couto RDM, da Silva-Neves M, Jancarova M, Volf P, Tempone AJ, Traub-Csekö YM. Lutzomyia longipalpis TGF-β Has a Role in Leishmania infantum chagasi Survival in the Vector. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:71. [PMID: 30972305 PMCID: PMC6445956 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the increasing number of studies concerning insect immunity, Lutzomyia longipalpis immune responses in the presence of Leishmania infantum chagasi infection has not been widely investigated. The few available studies analyzed the role of the Toll and IMD pathways involved in response against Leishmania and microbial infections. Nevertheless, effector molecules responsible for controlling sand fly infections have not been identified. In the present study we investigated the role a signal transduction pathway, the Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β) pathway, on the interrelation between L. longipalpis and L. i. chagasi. We identified an L. longipalpis homolog belonging to the multifunctional cytokine TGF-β gene family (LlTGF-β), which is closely related to the activin/inhibin subfamily and potentially involved in responses to infections. We investigated this gene expression through the insect development and in adult flies infected with L. i. chagasi. Our results showed that LlTGF-β was expressed in all L. longipalpis developmental stages and was upregulated at the third day post L. i. chagasi infection, when protein levels were also higher as compared to uninfected insects. At this point blood digestion is finished and parasites are in close contact with the insect gut. In addition, we investigated the role of LlTGF-β on L. longipalpis infection by L. i. chagasi using either gene silencing by RNAi or pathway inactivation by addition of the TGF-β receptor inhibitor SB431542. The blockage of the LlTGF-β pathway increased significantly antimicrobial peptides expression and nitric oxide levels in the insect gut, as expected. Both methods led to a decreased L. i. chagasi infection. Our results show that inactivation of the L. longipalpis TGF-β signal transduction pathway reduce L. i. chagasi survival, therefore suggesting that under natural conditions the parasite benefits from the insect LlTGF-β pathway, as already seen in Plamodium infection of mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Di-Blasi
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Erich Loza Telleria
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Parasitology Department, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Christiane Marques
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo de Macedo Couto
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Monique da Silva-Neves
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Magdalena Jancarova
- Parasitology Department, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Petr Volf
- Parasitology Department, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Antonio Jorge Tempone
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Yara Maria Traub-Csekö
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Schoeler GB, Wikel SK. Modulation of host immunity by haematophagous arthropods. ANNALS OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND PARASITOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/00034983.2001.11813695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Severo MS, Sakhon OS, Choy A, Stephens KD, Pedra JHF. The 'ubiquitous' reality of vector immunology. Cell Microbiol 2013; 15:1070-8. [PMID: 23433059 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2012] [Revised: 01/09/2013] [Accepted: 01/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Ubiquitination (ubiquitylation) is a common protein modification that regulates a multitude of processes within the cell. This modification is typically accomplished through the covalent binding of ubiquitin to a lysine residue onto a target protein and is catalysed by the presence of three enzymes: an activating enzyme (E1), ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2) and ubiquitin-protein ligase (E3). In recent years, ubiquitination has risen as a major signalling regulator of immunity and microbial pathogenesis in the mammalian system. Still, little is known about how ubiquitin relates specifically to vector immunology. Here, we provide a brief overview of ubiquitin biochemistry and describe how ubiquitination regulates immune responses in arthropods of medical relevance. We also discuss scientific gaps in the literature and suggest that, similar to mammals, ubiquitin is a major regulator of immunity in medically important arthropods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maiara S Severo
- Center for Disease Vector Research and Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
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Telleria EL, Sant'Anna MRV, Ortigão-Farias JR, Pitaluga AN, Dillon VM, Bates PA, Traub-Csekö YM, Dillon RJ. Caspar-like gene depletion reduces Leishmania infection in sand fly host Lutzomyia longipalpis. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:12985-93. [PMID: 22375009 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.331561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Female phlebotomine sand flies Lutzomyia longipalpis naturally harbor populations of the medically important Leishmania infantum (syn. Leishmania chagasi) parasite in the gut, but the extent to which the parasite interacts with the immune system of the insect vector is unknown. To investigate the sand fly immune response and its interaction with the Leishmania parasite, we identified a homologue for caspar, a negative regulator of immune deficiency signaling pathway. We found that feeding antibiotics to adult female L. longipalpis resulted in an up-regulation of caspar expression relative to controls. caspar was differentially expressed when females were fed on gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial species. caspar expression was significantly down-regulated in females between 3 and 6 days after a blood feed containing Leishmania mexicana amastigotes. RNA interference was used to deplete caspar expression in female L. longipalpis, which were subsequently fed with Leishmania in a blood meal. Sand fly gut populations of both L. mexicana and L. infantum were significantly reduced in caspar-depleted females. The prevalence of L. infantum infection in the females fell from 85 to 45%. Our results provide the first insight into the operation of immune homeostasis in phlebotomine sand flies during the growth of bacterial and Leishmania populations in the digestive tract. We have demonstrated that the activation of the sand fly immune system, via depletion of a single gene, can lead to the abortion of Leishmania development and the disruption of transmission by the phlebotomine sand fly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erich L Telleria
- Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Seufi AM, Hafez EE, Galal FH. Identification, phylogenetic analysis and expression profile of an anionic insect defensin gene, with antibacterial activity, from bacterial-challenged cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis. BMC Mol Biol 2011; 12:47. [PMID: 22067477 PMCID: PMC3234185 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2199-12-47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2011] [Accepted: 11/09/2011] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Defensins are a well known family of cationic antibacterial peptides (AMPs) isolated from fungi, plants, insects, mussels, birds, and various mammals. They are predominantly active against gram (+) bacteria, and a few of them are also active against gram (-) bacteria and fungi. All insect defensins belonging to the invertebrate class have a consensus motif, C-X5-16-C-X3-C-X9-10-C-X4-7-CX1-C. Only seven AMPs have already been found in different lepidopteran species. No report was published on the isolation of defensin from the Egyptian cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis. Results An anionic defensin, termed SpliDef, was isolated from the haemolymph of the cotton leafworm, S. littoralis, after bacterial challenge using differential display technique. Based on sequence analyses of the data, specific primers for full length and mature peptide of defensin were designed and successfully amplified 471 and 150 bp amplicons. The integration of the results revealed that the 471 bp-PCR product has one open reading frame (orf) of 303 bp long, including both start codon (AUG) and stop codon (UGA). The deduced peptide consists of a 23-residues signal peptide, a 27-residues propeptide and a 50-residues mature peptide with the conserved six-cysteine motif of insect defensins. Both haemolymph and expressed protein exhibited antibacterial activities comparable to positive control. The RT-qPCR indicated that it was more than 41-folds up-regulated at 48 h p.i. Conclusion Our results highlight an important immune role of the defensin gene in Spodoptera littoralis by cooperating with other AMPs to control bacterial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaaeddeen M Seufi
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Cairo university, 9 Gamaa St. Giza, 12613, Egypt.
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Telleria EL, de Araújo APO, Secundino NF, d'Avila-Levy CM, Traub-Csekö YM. Trypsin-like serine proteases in Lutzomyia longipalpis--expression, activity and possible modulation by Leishmania infantum chagasi. PLoS One 2010; 5:e10697. [PMID: 20502532 PMCID: PMC2872664 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0010697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2009] [Accepted: 04/29/2010] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Midgut enzymatic activity is one of the obstacles that Leishmania must surpass to succeed in establishing infection. Trypsins are abundant digestive enzymes in most insects. We have previously described two trypsin cDNAs of L. longipalpis: one (Lltryp1) with a bloodmeal induced transcription pattern, the other (Lltryp2) with a constitutive transcription pattern. We have now characterized the expression and activity of trypsin-like proteases of Lutzomyia longipalpis, the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil. Methodology and Principal Findings In order to study trypsin expression profiles we produced antibodies against peptides specific for Lltryp1 and Lltryp2. The anti-Lltryp1-peptide antibody revealed a band of 28 kDa between 6 and 48 hours. The anti-Lltryp2 peptide antibody did not evidence any band. When proteinaceous substrates (gelatin, hemoglobin, casein or albumin) were co-polymerized in polyacrylamide gels, insect midguts obtained at 12 hours after feeding showed a unique proteolytic pattern for each substrate. All activity bands were strongly inhibited by TLCK, benzamidine and 4-amino-benzamidine, indicating that they are trypsin-like proteases. The trypsin-like activity was also measured in vitro at different time points after ingestion of blood or blood containing Leishmania infantum chagasi, using the chromogenic substrate BAρNA. L. longipalpis females fed on blood infected with L. i. chagasi had lower levels of trypsin activity after 12 and 48 hours than non-infected insects, suggesting that the parasite may have a role in this modulation. Conclusions and Significance Trypsins are important and abundant digestive enzymes in L. longipalpis. Protein production and enzymatic activity followed previously identified gene expression of a blood modulated trypsin gene. A decrease of enzymatic activity upon the parasite infection, previously detected mostly in Old World vectors, was detected for the first time in the natural vector-parasite pair L. longipalpis-L. i. chagasi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erich Loza Telleria
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Nágila Francinete Secundino
- Laboratório de Entomologia Médica, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Claudia Masini d'Avila-Levy
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Yara Maria Traub-Csekö
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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9
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Ramalho-Ortigao M, Saraiva EM, Traub-Csekö YM. Sand fly- Leishmania interactions: long relationships are not necessarily easy. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 4:195-204. [PMID: 24159365 DOI: 10.2174/1874421401004010195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Sand fly and Leishmania are one of the best studied vector-parasite models. Much is known about the development of these parasites within the sand fly, and how transmission to a suitable vertebrate host takes place. Various molecules secreted by the vector assist the establishment of the infection in a vertebrate, and changes to the vector are promoted by the parasites in order to facilitate or enhance transmission. Despite a generally accepted view that sand flies and Leishmania are also one of the oldest vector-pathogen pairs known, such long history has not been translated into a harmonic relationship. Leishmania are faced with many barriers to the establishment of a successful infection within the sand fly vector, and specific associations have been developed which are thought to represent aspects of a co-evolution between the parasite and its vectors. In this review, we highlight the journey taken by Leishmania during its development within the vector, and describe the issues associated with the natural barriers encountered by the parasite. Recent data revealed sexual replication of Leishmania within the sand fly, but it is yet unknown if such reproduction affects disease outcome. New approaches targeting sand fly molecules to prevent parasite transmission are being sought, and various techniques related to genetic manipulation of sand flies are being utilized.
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10
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Pitaluga AN, Beteille V, Lobo AR, Ortigão-Farias JR, Dávila AMR, Souza AA, Ramalho-Ortigão JM, Traub-Cseko YM. EST sequencing of blood-fed and Leishmania-infected midgut of Lutzomyia longipalpis, the principal visceral leishmaniasis vector in the Americas. Mol Genet Genomics 2009; 282:307-17. [PMID: 19565270 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-009-0466-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2008] [Accepted: 06/09/2009] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is an important worldwide public health problem. Visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum chagasi is mainly transmitted by Lutzomyia longipalpis in the Americas. Leishmania development within the sand fly vector is mostly restricted to the midgut. Thus, a comparative analysis of blood-fed versus infected midguts may provide an invaluable insight into various aspects of sand fly immunity, physiology of blood digestion, and, more importantly, of Leishmania development. To that end, we have engaged in a study to identify expressed sequenced tags (ESTs) from L. longipalpis cDNA libraries produced from midguts dissected at different times post blood meal and also after artificial infection with L. i. chagasi. A total of 2,520 ESTs were obtained and, according to the quality of the sequencing data obtained, assembled into 378 clusters and 1,526 individual sequences or singletons totalizing 1,904 sequences. Several sequences associated with defense, apoptosis, RNAi, and digestion processes were annotated. The data presented here increases current knowledge on the New World sand fly transcriptome, contributing to the understanding of various aspects of the molecular physiology of L. longipalpis, and mechanisms underlying the relationship of this sand fly species with L. i. chagasi.
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Affiliation(s)
- André N Pitaluga
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Tripanosomatídeos e Flebotomíneos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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11
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Silva EA, Andreotti R, Dias ES, Barros JC, Brazuna JCM. Detection of Leishmania DNA in phlebotomines captured in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Exp Parasitol 2008; 119:343-8. [PMID: 18456262 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2008.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2007] [Revised: 03/11/2008] [Accepted: 03/13/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Over the past years, leishmaniases have become a public health issue in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul, particularly in Campo Grande, the state capital. The purpose of this study was to detect the presence of Leishmania DNA in the population of phlebotomine sandflies using DNA amplification by PCR. Insect captures were carried out from 4 pm. to 7 am for 4 consecutive days each month from October 2005 to September 2006 in 16 neighborhoods located in 7 urban regions of Campo Grande. Traps were placed indoors and in the vicinity of households. As many as 971 males and 203 females were collected. One hundred and five naturally fed females were identified and grouped as 1- to 4-specimen pools. DNA extraction was carried out using whole insects. Lutzomyia longipalpis predominated, accounting for 99.15% of the phlebotomines captured. Also found was Nyssomyia whitmani, the vector of tegumentary leishmaniasis. Abundance was greatest in the vicinity of households (69.8% of the phlebotomines captured). As revealed by PCR, parasites were present in 1.9% of the Leishmania spp. specimens investigated and confirmed for visceral leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine A Silva
- Centro de Controle de Zoonoses, Secretaria Municipal de Saúde, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
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12
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Ramalho-Ortigão JM, Pitaluga AN, Telleria EL, Marques C, Souza AA, Traub-Cseko YM. Cloning and characterization of a V-ATPase subunit C from the American visceral leishmaniasis vector Lutzomyia longipalpis modulated during development and blood ingestion. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2008; 102:509-15. [PMID: 17607496 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762007000400013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2006] [Accepted: 03/07/2007] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a serious tropical disease that affects approximately 500 thousand people worldwide every year. In the Americas, VL is caused by the parasite Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi mainly transmitted by the bite of the sand fly vector Lutzomyia longipalpis. Despite recent advances in the study of interaction between Leishmania and sand flies, very little is known about sand fly protein expression profiles. Understanding how the expression of proteins may be affected by blood feeding and/or presence of parasite in the vector's midgut might allow us to devise new strategies for controlling the spread of leishmaniasis. In this work, we report the characterization of a vacuolar ATPase subunit C from L. longipalpis by screening of a midgut cDNA library with a 220 bp fragment identified by means of differential display reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis. The expression of the gene varies along insect development and is upregulated in males and bloodfed L. longipalpis, compared to unfed flies.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Ramalho-Ortigão
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Tripanossomatídios e Flebotomíneos, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21045-900, Brasil
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13
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Pitaluga AN, Mason PW, Traub-Cseko YM. Non-specific antiviral response detected in RNA-treated cultured cells of the sandfly, Lutzomyia longipalpis. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2008; 32:191-7. [PMID: 17706772 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2007.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2007] [Revised: 06/13/2007] [Accepted: 06/17/2007] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Lutzomyia longipalpis is the principal vector of visceral leishmaniasis in the Americas, and can also transmit some viruses. To help develop a gene-silencing system for this sandfly, we transfected cultured embryonic cells with various double-stranded RNAs using West Nile virus (WNV) virus-like particles (VLPs) expressing luciferase as the target RNA to demonstrate effective gene knock-down. When luciferase dsRNA was introduced into these cells, they produced the expected reduction in VLP-encoded luciferase, suggesting specific silencing of the luciferase gene. Surprisingly, we found that unrelated dsRNAs, which included those specific for several L. longipalpis gene sequences and Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase, diminished replication of the VLP-encoded genome. These results are the first indication for a nucleic acid-induced, non-specific antiviral response in this important insect vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- A N Pitaluga
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Tripanosomatídeos e Flebotomíneos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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14
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Telleria EL, Pitaluga AN, Ortigão-Farias JR, de Araújo APO, Ramalho-Ortigão JM, Traub-Cseko YM. Constitutive and blood meal-induced trypsin genes in Lutzomyia longipalpis. ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2007; 66:53-63. [PMID: 17879236 DOI: 10.1002/arch.20198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Trypsins constitute some of the most abundant midgut digestive proteases expressed by hematophagous insects upon blood feeding. In addition to their role in the digestion of the blood meal, these proteases also have been implicated in the ability of certain pathogens to infect their natural vector. In sand flies, digestive proteases including trypsins were associated with early killing of Leishmania and are believed to play a role in the species-specificity dictating sand fly vectorial capacity. Our group is involved in studies of midgut digestive proteases in the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis, the principal vector of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil. Here we report on the identification of two cDNAs, Lltryp1 and Lltryp2, which code for putative midgut trypsins in L. longipalpis. Analyses of RNA abundance using semi-quantitative RT-PCR show a different pattern of expression between the two genes. Lltryp1 expression remains undetected until blood feeding and reaches a peak at 12 h post-blood meal (PBM), returning to pre-blood meal levels at 72 h PBM. Additionally, Lltryp1 expression is undetected during larval development. Lltryp2, on the other hand, is constitutively expressed as high levels in the non-blood fed female, but is reduced upon blood feeding. At the end of the digestive cycle, Lltryp2 regains its pre-blood meal levels. This cDNA also is present in all developmental stages and in adult males. This pattern of expression is reminiscent of what is seen in mosquitoes and Old World sand flies, but has characteristics that are unique to L. longipalpis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erich Loza Telleria
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Tripanosomatídeos e Flebotomíneos, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
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15
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Bañuls AL, Hide M, Prugnolle F. Leishmania and the leishmaniases: a parasite genetic update and advances in taxonomy, epidemiology and pathogenicity in humans. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2007; 64:1-109. [PMID: 17499100 DOI: 10.1016/s0065-308x(06)64001-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniases remain a major public health problem today despite the vast amount of research conducted on Leishmania pathogens. The biological model is genetically and ecologically complex. This paper explores the advances in Leishmania genetics and reviews population structure, taxonomy, epidemiology and pathogenicity. Current knowledge of Leishmania genetics is placed in the context of natural populations. Various studies have described a clonal structure for Leishmania but recombination, pseudo-recombination and other genetic processes have also been reported. The impact of these different models on epidemiology and the medical aspects of leishmaniases is considered from an evolutionary point of view. The role of these parasites in the expression of pathogenicity in humans is also explored. It is important to ascertain whether genetic variability of the parasites is related to the different clinical expressions of leishmaniasis. The review aims to put current knowledge of Leishmania and the leishmaniases in perspective and to underline priority questions which 'leishmaniacs' must answer in various domains: epidemiology, population genetics, taxonomy and pathogenicity. It concludes by presenting a number of feasible ways of responding to these questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Laure Bañuls
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR CNRS/IRD 2724, Génétique et Evolution des Maladies Infectieuses, IRD Montpellier, 911 avenue Agropolis, 34394 Montpellier cedex 5, France
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16
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Ramalho-Ortigão M, Jochim RC, Anderson JM, Lawyer PG, Pham VM, Kamhawi S, Valenzuela JG. Exploring the midgut transcriptome of Phlebotomus papatasi: comparative analysis of expression profiles of sugar-fed, blood-fed and Leishmania-major-infected sandflies. BMC Genomics 2007; 8:300. [PMID: 17760985 PMCID: PMC2034597 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-8-300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2007] [Accepted: 08/30/2007] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In sandflies, the blood meal is responsible for the induction of several physiologic processes that culminate in egg development and maturation. During blood feeding, infected sandflies are also able to transmit the parasite Leishmania to a suitable host. Many blood-induced molecules play significant roles during Leishmania development in the sandfly midgut, including parasite killing within the endoperitrophic space. In this work, we randomly sequenced transcripts from three distinct high quality full-length female Phlebotomus papatasi midgut-specific cDNA libraries from sugar-fed, blood-fed and Leishmania major-infected sandflies. Furthermore, we compared the transcript expression profiles from the three different cDNA libraries by customized bioinformatics analysis and validated these findings by semi-quantitative PCR and real-time PCR. Results Transcriptome analysis of 4010 cDNA clones resulted in the identification of the most abundant P. papatasi midgut-specific transcripts. The identified molecules included those with putative roles in digestion and peritrophic matrix formation, among others. Moreover, we identified sandfly midgut transcripts that are expressed only after a blood meal, such as microvilli associated-like protein (PpMVP1, PpMVP2 and PpMVP3), a peritrophin (PpPer1), trypsin 4 (PpTryp4), chymotrypsin PpChym2, and two unknown proteins. Of interest, many of these overabundant transcripts such as PpChym2, PpMVP1, PpMVP2, PpPer1 and PpPer2 were of lower abundance when the sandfly was given a blood meal in the presence of L. major. Conclusion This tissue-specific transcriptome analysis provides a comprehensive look at the repertoire of transcripts present in the midgut of the sandfly P. papatasi. Furthermore, the customized bioinformatic analysis allowed us to compare and identify the overall transcript abundance from sugar-fed, blood-fed and Leishmania-infected sandflies. The suggested upregulation of specific transcripts in a blood-fed cDNA library were validated by real-time PCR, suggesting that this customized bioinformatic analysis is a powerful and accurate tool useful in analysing expression profiles from different cDNA libraries. Additionally, the findings presented in this work suggest that the Leishmania parasite is modulating key enzymes or proteins in the gut of the sandfly that may be beneficial for its establishment and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Ramalho-Ortigão
- Vector Molecular Biology Unit, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Center for Tropical Disease Research and Training, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Ryan C Jochim
- Vector Molecular Biology Unit, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jennifer M Anderson
- Vector Molecular Biology Unit, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Phillip G Lawyer
- Intracellular Parasite Biology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Van-My Pham
- Vector Molecular Biology Unit, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Shaden Kamhawi
- Vector Molecular Biology Unit, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jesus G Valenzuela
- Vector Molecular Biology Unit, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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17
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Kamhawi S. Phlebotomine sand flies and Leishmania parasites: friends or foes? Trends Parasitol 2006; 22:439-45. [PMID: 16843727 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2006.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 209] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2005] [Revised: 06/12/2006] [Accepted: 06/29/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Leishmania parasites need phlebotomine sand flies to complete their life cycle and to propagate. This review looks at Leishmania-sand fly interactions as the parasites develop from amastigotes to infectious metacyclics, highlighting recent findings concerning the evolutionary adaptations that ensure survival of the parasites. Such adaptations include secretion of phosphoglycans, which protect the parasite from digestive enzymes; production of chitinases that degrade the stomodeal valve of the sand fly; secretion of a neuropeptide that arrests midgut and hindgut peristalsis; and attaching to the midgut to avoid expulsion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaden Kamhawi
- Intracellular Parasite Biology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease/NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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18
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Dillon RJ, Ivens AC, Churcher C, Holroyd N, Quail MA, Rogers ME, Soares MB, Bonaldo MF, Casavant TL, Lehane MJ, Bates PA. Analysis of ESTs from Lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies and their contribution toward understanding the insect-parasite relationship. Genomics 2006; 88:831-840. [PMID: 16887324 PMCID: PMC2675706 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2006.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2006] [Revised: 06/16/2006] [Accepted: 06/20/2006] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
An expressed sequence tag library has been generated from a sand fly vector of visceral leishmaniasis, Lutzomyia longipalpis. A normalized cDNA library was constructed from whole adults and 16,608 clones were sequenced from both ends and assembled into 10,203 contigs and singlets. Of these 58% showed significant similarity to known genes from other organisms, < 4% were identical to described sand fly genes, and 42% had no match to any database sequence. Our analyses revealed putative proteins involved in the barrier function of the gut (peritrophins, microvillar proteins, glutamine synthase), digestive physiology (secreted and membrane-anchored hydrolytic enzymes), and the immune response (gram-negative binding proteins, thioester proteins, scavenger receptors, galectins, signaling pathway factors, caspases, serpins, and peroxidases). Sequence analysis of this transcriptome dataset has provided new insights into genes that might be associated with the response of the vector to the development of Leishmania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rod J Dillon
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK.
| | - Al C Ivens
- The Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Carol Churcher
- The Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nancy Holroyd
- The Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Michael A Quail
- The Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Matthew E Rogers
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - M Bento Soares
- Children's Memorial Research Center and Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Maria F Bonaldo
- Children's Memorial Research Center and Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Thomas L Casavant
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Mike J Lehane
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Paul A Bates
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
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Guedes PMDM, Urbina JA, de Lana M, Afonso LCC, Veloso VM, Tafuri WL, Machado-Coelho GLL, Chiari E, Bahia MT. Activity of the new triazole derivative albaconazole against Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi in dog hosts. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2004; 48:4286-92. [PMID: 15504854 PMCID: PMC525424 DOI: 10.1128/aac.48.11.4286-4292.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Albaconazole is an experimental triazole derivative with potent and broad-spectrum antifungal activity and a remarkably long half-life in dogs, monkeys, and humans. In the present work, we investigated the in vivo activity of this compound against two strains of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas' disease, using dogs as hosts. The T. cruzi strains used in the study were previously characterized (murine model) as susceptible (strain Berenice-78) and partially resistant (strain Y) to the drugs currently in clinical use, nifurtimox and benznidazole. Our results demonstrated that albaconazole is very effective in suppressing the proliferation of the parasite and preventing the death of infected animals. Furthermore, the parasitological, PCR, serological, and proliferative assay results indicated parasitological cure indices of 25 and 100% among animals inoculated with T. cruzi strain Y when they were treated with albaconazole at 1.5 mg/kg of body weight/day for 60 and 90 days, respectively. On the other hand, although albaconazole given at 1.5 mg/kg/day was very effective in suppressing the proliferation of the parasite in animals infected with the Berenice-78 T. cruzi strain, no parasitological cure was observed among them, even when a longer treatment period (150 doses) was used. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that albaconazole has trypanocidal activity in vivo and is capable of inducing radical parasitological cure, although natural resistance to this compound was also indicated. Furthermore, the compound can be used in long-term treatment schemes (60 to 150 days) with minimal toxicity and thus represents a potentially useful candidate for the treatment of human Chagas' disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Marcos da Matta Guedes
- Departamento Ciências Biológicas, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto. Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, CEP 35400-000, Brazil.
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20
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Abstract
Lutzomyia longipalpis is the most important vector of AmericanVisceral Leishmaniasis (AVL) due to Leishmania chagasi in the New World. Despite its importance, AVL, a disease primarily of rural areas, has increased its prevalence and became urbanized in some large cities in Brazil and other countries in Latin America. Although the disease is treatable, other control measures include elimination of infected dogs and the use of insecticides to kill the sand flies. A better understanding of vector biology could also account as one more tool for AVL control. A wide variety of papers about L. longipalpis have been published in the recent past years. This review summarizes our current information of this particular sand fly regarding its importance, biology, morphology, pheromones genetics, saliva, gut physiology and parasite interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo P P Soares
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA
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Ramalho-Ortigão JM, Traub-Csekö YM. Molecular characterization of Llchit1, a midgut chitinase cDNA from the leishmaniasis vector Lutzomyia longipalpis. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2003; 33:279-287. [PMID: 12609513 DOI: 10.1016/s0965-1748(02)00209-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
During development within the midgut of the sand fly vector, Leishmania parasites after undergoing differentiation and multiplication must escape the peritrophic matrix (PM). Although Leishmania chitinase is believed to take part in promoting the escape of the parasite from the PM by inducing degradation of chitin fibers, it is conceivable that a sand fly-derived chitinase can also have a role in such an event. Here we describe the molecular cloning and partial characterization of a complete cDNA from a putative gut-specific, blood-induced chitinase from the sand fly vector Lutzomyia longipalpis. Llchit1 has an ORF of 1425 bp that encodes a predicted 51.6 kDa mature protein showing high similarity with chitinases from several different organisms. Messenger RNA expression studies indicate that Llchit1 is detected only in the blood fed midgut and it seems to reach a peak at approximately 72 h post blood meal (PBM). To date, only one midgut-specific chitinase from an insect disease vector, AgChi-1 from Anopheles gambiae, has been characterized. As with its mosquito counterpart, Llchit1 can be a target for development of a transmission blocking vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Ramalho-Ortigão
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Avenida Brasil 4365, 22461-900, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil.
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Abstract
Genomics is the study of the structure and function of the genome: the set of genetic information encoded in the DNA of the nucleus and organelles of an organism. It is a dynamic field that combines traditional paths of inquiry with new approaches that would have been impossible without recent technological developments. Much of the recent focus has been on obtaining the sequence of entire genomes, determining the order and organization of the genes, and developing libraries that provide immediate physical access to any desired DNA fragment. This has enabled functional studies on a genome-wide level, including analysis of the genetic basis of complex traits, quantification of global patterns of gene expression, and systematic gene disruption projects. The successful contribution of genomics to problems in applied entomology requires the cooperation of the private and public sectors to build upon the knowledge derived from the Drosophila genome and effectively develop models for other insect Orders.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G Heckel
- Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaptation Research, Department of Genetics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
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Kato N, Dasgupta R, Smartt CT, Christensen BM. Glucosamine:fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase: gene characterization, chitin biosynthesis and peritrophic matrix formation in Aedes aegypti. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2002; 11:207-216. [PMID: 12000639 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2583.2002.00326.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Glucosamine:fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase (GFAT) catalyses the formation of glucosamine 6-phosphate and is the first and rate-limiting enzyme of the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway. The final product of the hexosamine pathway, UDP-N-acetyl glucosamine, is an active precursor of numerous macromolecules containing amino sugars, including chitin in fungi and arthropods. Chitin is one of the essential components of insect cuticle and peritrophic matrix. The peritrophic matrix is produced in the midgut of mosquitoes in response to bloodfeeding, and may affect vector competence by serving as a physical barrier to pathogens. It is hypothesized that GFAT plays a regulatory role in biosynthesis of chitin and peritrophic matrix formation in insects. We cloned and sequenced the GFAT gene (AeGfat-1) and its 5' regulatory region from Aedes aegypti. There is no intron in AeGfat-1 and there are two potential transcription start sites. AeGfat-1 cDNA is 3.4 kb in length and its putative translation product is 75.4 kDa. The amino acid sequence of GFAT is highly conserved in lower and higher eukaryotes, as well as in bacteria. AeGfat-1 message is constitutively expressed but is gradually up-regulated in the midgut after bloodfeeding. The putative regulatory region of the gene contains the ecdysone response element, E74, and Broad complex motifs, similar to what is found in the glutamine synthetase gene in Ae. aegypti. Results suggest that Ae. aegypti GFAT-1 may have a regulatory role in chitin biosynthesis and peritrophic matrix formation, and probably is under the regulation of ecdysteroids.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Kato
- Department of Animal Health and Biomedical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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