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Mas A, Martínez-Rodrigo A, Carrión J, Orden JA, Alzate JF, Domínguez-Bernal G, Horcajo P. Transcriptomic Profile of Canine DH82 Macrophages Infected by Leishmania infantum Promastigotes with Different Virulence Behavior. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031466. [PMID: 35163386 PMCID: PMC8835757 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Zoonotic visceral leishmaniosis caused by Leishmania infantum is an endemic disease in the Mediterranean Basin affecting mainly humans and dogs, the main reservoir. The leishmaniosis outbreak declared in the Community of Madrid (Spain) led to a significant increase in human disease incidence without enhancing canine leishmaniosis prevalence, suggesting a better adaptation of the outbreak's isolates by other host species. One of the isolates obtained in the focus, IPER/ES/2012/BOS1FL1 (BOS1FL1), has previously demonstrated a different phenotype than the reference strain MCAN/ES/1996/BCN150 (BCN150), characterized by a lower infectivity when interacting with canine macrophages. Nevertheless, not enough changes in the cell defensive response were found to support their different behavior. Thus, we decided to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in the interaction of both parasites with DH82 canine macrophages by studying their transcriptomic profiles developed after infection using RNA sequencing. The results showed a common regulation induced by both parasites in the phosphoinositide-3-kinase-protein kinase B/Akt and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways. However, other pathways, such as phagocytosis and signal transduction, including tumor necrosis factor, mitogen-activated kinases and nuclear factor-κB, were only regulated after infection with BOS1FL1. These differences could contribute to the reduced infection ability of the outbreak isolates in canine cells. Our results open a new avenue to investigate the true role of adaptation of L. infantum isolates in their interaction with their different hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Mas
- INMIVET, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (A.M.); (A.M.-R.); (J.C.); (J.A.O.)
| | - Abel Martínez-Rodrigo
- INMIVET, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (A.M.); (A.M.-R.); (J.C.); (J.A.O.)
| | - Javier Carrión
- INMIVET, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (A.M.); (A.M.-R.); (J.C.); (J.A.O.)
| | - José Antonio Orden
- INMIVET, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (A.M.); (A.M.-R.); (J.C.); (J.A.O.)
| | - Juan F. Alzate
- Centro Nacional de Secuenciación Genómica-CNSG, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia;
| | - Gustavo Domínguez-Bernal
- INMIVET, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (A.M.); (A.M.-R.); (J.C.); (J.A.O.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-913943814
| | - Pilar Horcajo
- Animal Health and Zoonoses (SALUVET) Group, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
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Bulté D, Van Bockstal L, Dirkx L, Van den Kerkhof M, De Trez C, Timmermans JP, Hendrickx S, Maes L, Caljon G. Miltefosine enhances infectivity of a miltefosine-resistant Leishmania infantum strain by attenuating its innate immune recognition. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009622. [PMID: 34292975 PMCID: PMC8330912 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Miltefosine (MIL) is currently the only oral drug available to treat visceral leishmaniasis but its use as first-line monotherapy has been compromised by an increasing treatment failure. Despite the scarce number of resistant clinical isolates, MIL-resistance by mutations in a single aminophospholipid transporter gene can easily be selected in a laboratory environment. These mutations result in a reduced survival in the mammalian host, which can partially be restored by exposure to MIL, suggesting a kind of drug-dependency. Methodology/Principal findings To enable a combined study of the infection dynamics and underlying immunological events for differential in vivo survival, firefly luciferase (PpyRE9) / red fluorescent protein (DsRed) double-reporter strains were generated of MIL-resistant (MIL-R) and syngeneic MIL-sensitive (MIL-S) Leishmania infantum. Results in C57Bl/6 and BALB/c mice show that MIL-R parasites induce an increased innate immune response that is characterized by enhanced influx and infection of neutrophils, monocytes and dendritic cells in the liver and elevated serum IFN-γ levels, finally resulting in a less efficient establishment in liver macrophages. The elevated IFN-γ levels were shown to originate from an increased response of hepatic NK and NKT cells to the MIL-R parasites. In addition, we demonstrated that MIL could increase the in vivo fitness of MIL-R parasites by lowering NK and NKT cell activation, leading to a reduced IFN-γ production. Conclusions/Significance Differential induction of innate immune responses in the liver was found to underlie the attenuated phenotype of a MIL-R parasite and its peculiar feature of drug-dependency. The impact of MIL on hepatic NK and NKT activation and IFN-γ production following recognition of a MIL-R strain indicates that this mechanism may sustain infections with resistant parasites and contribute to treatment failure. Visceral leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease that is fatal if left untreated. Miltefosine is currently the only oral drug available but is increasingly failing to cure patients, resulting in its discontinuation as first-line drug in some endemic areas. To understand these treatment failures, we investigated the complex interplay of the parasite with the host immune system in the presence and absence of miltefosine. Our data indicate that miltefosine-resistant Leishmania parasites become severely hampered in their in vivo infectivity, which could be attributed to the induction of a pronounced innate immune response. Interestingly, the infection deficit was partially restored in the presence of miltefosine. Our results further indicate that miltefosine can exacerbate infections with resistant parasites by reducing innate immune recognition. This study provides new insights into the complex interplay between parasite, drug and host and discloses an immune-related mechanism of treatment failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitri Bulté
- University of Antwerp, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Lieselotte Van Bockstal
- University of Antwerp, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Laura Dirkx
- University of Antwerp, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Magali Van den Kerkhof
- University of Antwerp, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Carl De Trez
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laboratory for Cellular and Molecular Immunology (CMIM), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jean-Pierre Timmermans
- University of Antwerp, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Laboratory of Cell biology & Histology, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Sarah Hendrickx
- University of Antwerp, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Louis Maes
- University of Antwerp, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Guy Caljon
- University of Antwerp, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Wilrijk, Belgium
- * E-mail:
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Ramos REM, Santos WJT, Magalhães FB, Diniz GTN, Costa CHN, de Melo Neto OP, Medeiros ZM, Reis CRS. Assessment of a recombinant protein from Leishmania infantum as a novel tool for Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) diagnosis in VL/HIV co-infection cases. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0251861. [PMID: 33999968 PMCID: PMC8128258 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral Leishmaniasis and HIV-AIDS coinfection (VL/HIV) is considered a life-threatening pathology when undiagnosed and untreated, due to the immunosuppression caused by both diseases. Serological tests largely used for the VL diagnosis include the direct agglutination test (DAT), ELISA and immunochromatographic (ICT) assays. For VL diagnosis in HIV infections, different studies have shown that the use of the DAT assay facilitates the VL diagnosis in co-infected patients, since the performance of the most widely used ELISA and ICT tests, based on the recombinant protein rK39, are much less efficient in HIV co-infections. In this scenario, alternative recombinant antigens may help the development of new serological diagnostic methods which may improve the VL diagnosis for the co-infection cases. This work aimed to evaluate the use of the recombinant Lci2 antigen, related to, but antigenically more diverse than rK39, for VL diagnosis in co-infected sera through ELISA assays. A direct comparison between recombinant Lci2 and rK39 was thus carried out. The two proteins were first tested using indirect ELISA with sera from VL afflicted individuals and healthy controls, with similar performances. They were then tested with two different sets of VL/HIV co-infected cases and a significant drop in performance, for one of these groups, was observed for rK39 (32% sensitivity), but not for Lci2 (98% sensitivity). In fact, an almost perfect agreement (Kappa: 0.93) between the Lci2 ELISA and DAT was observed for the coinfected VL/HIV patients. Lci2 then has the potential to be used as a new tool for the VL diagnosis of VL/HIV co-infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhaíssa E. M. Ramos
- Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Wagner J. T. Santos
- Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | | | - George T. N. Diniz
- Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Carlos H. N. Costa
- Instituto de Doenças Tropicais Natan Portella (IDTNP), Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
| | | | - Zulma M. Medeiros
- Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
- * E-mail: (CRSR); (ZMM)
| | - Christian R. S. Reis
- Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
- * E-mail: (CRSR); (ZMM)
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Mokdadi M, Abdelkrim YZ, Banroques J, Huvelle E, Oualha R, Yeter-Alat H, Guizani I, Barhoumi M, Tanner NK. The In Silico Identification of Potential Members of the Ded1/DDX3 Subfamily of DEAD-Box RNA Helicases from the Protozoan Parasite Leishmania infantum and Their Analyses in Yeast. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12020212. [PMID: 33535521 PMCID: PMC7912733 DOI: 10.3390/genes12020212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
DEAD-box RNA helicases are ubiquitous proteins found in all kingdoms of life and that are associated with all processes involving RNA. Their central roles in biology make these proteins potential targets for therapeutic or prophylactic drugs. The Ded1/DDX3 subfamily of DEAD-box proteins is of particular interest because of their important role(s) in translation. In this paper, we identified and aligned the protein sequences of 28 different DEAD-box proteins from the kinetoplast-protozoan parasite Leishmania infantum, which is the cause of the visceral form of leishmaniasis that is often lethal if left untreated, and compared them with the consensus sequence derived from DEAD-box proteins in general, and from the Ded1/DDX3 subfamily in particular, from a wide variety of other organisms. We identified three potential homologs of the Ded1/DDX3 subfamily and the equivalent proteins from the related protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei, which is the causative agent of sleeping sickness. We subsequently tested these proteins for their ability to complement a yeast strain deleted for the essential DED1 gene. We found that the DEAD-box proteins from Trypanosomatids are highly divergent from other eukaryotes, and consequently they are suitable targets for protein-specific drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molka Mokdadi
- Expression Génétique Microbienne, UMR8261 CNRS, Université de Paris, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, 13 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France; (M.M.); (Y.Z.A.); (J.B.); (E.H.); (H.Y.-A.)
- PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, 13 Place Pasteur, BP74 Tunis-Belvédère 1002, Tunisia; (R.O.); (I.G.)
- Institut National des Sciences Appliquées et Technologies, Université de Carthage, CEDEX, Tunis 1080, Tunisia
| | - Yosser Zina Abdelkrim
- Expression Génétique Microbienne, UMR8261 CNRS, Université de Paris, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, 13 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France; (M.M.); (Y.Z.A.); (J.B.); (E.H.); (H.Y.-A.)
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, 13 Place Pasteur, BP74 Tunis-Belvédère 1002, Tunisia; (R.O.); (I.G.)
| | - Josette Banroques
- Expression Génétique Microbienne, UMR8261 CNRS, Université de Paris, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, 13 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France; (M.M.); (Y.Z.A.); (J.B.); (E.H.); (H.Y.-A.)
- PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Emmeline Huvelle
- Expression Génétique Microbienne, UMR8261 CNRS, Université de Paris, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, 13 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France; (M.M.); (Y.Z.A.); (J.B.); (E.H.); (H.Y.-A.)
- PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Rafeh Oualha
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, 13 Place Pasteur, BP74 Tunis-Belvédère 1002, Tunisia; (R.O.); (I.G.)
| | - Hilal Yeter-Alat
- Expression Génétique Microbienne, UMR8261 CNRS, Université de Paris, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, 13 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France; (M.M.); (Y.Z.A.); (J.B.); (E.H.); (H.Y.-A.)
- PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Ikram Guizani
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, 13 Place Pasteur, BP74 Tunis-Belvédère 1002, Tunisia; (R.O.); (I.G.)
| | - Mourad Barhoumi
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, 13 Place Pasteur, BP74 Tunis-Belvédère 1002, Tunisia; (R.O.); (I.G.)
- Correspondence: (M.B.); (N.K.T.); Tel.: +216-71 843 755 (ext. 544) (M.B.); +33-1-58-41-52-37 (N.K.T.); Fax: +216-71-791-833 (M.B.); +33-1-58-41-50-25 (N.K.T.)
| | - N. Kyle Tanner
- Expression Génétique Microbienne, UMR8261 CNRS, Université de Paris, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, 13 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France; (M.M.); (Y.Z.A.); (J.B.); (E.H.); (H.Y.-A.)
- PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
- Correspondence: (M.B.); (N.K.T.); Tel.: +216-71 843 755 (ext. 544) (M.B.); +33-1-58-41-52-37 (N.K.T.); Fax: +216-71-791-833 (M.B.); +33-1-58-41-50-25 (N.K.T.)
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Fialho Junior L, da Fonseca Pires S, Burchmore R, McGill S, Weidt S, Ruiz JC, Guimarães FG, Chapeourouge A, Perales J, de Andrade HM. Proteomic analysis reveals differentially abundant proteins probably involved in the virulence of amastigote and promastigote forms of Leishmania infantum. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:679-692. [PMID: 33415401 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-07020-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Owing to the importance and clinical diversity of Leishmania infantum, studying its virulence factors is promising for understanding the relationship between parasites and hosts. In the present study, differentially abundant proteins from strains with different degrees of virulence in promastigote and amastigote forms were compared using two quantitative proteomics techniques, differential gel electrophoresis and isobaric mass tag labeling, followed by identification by mass spectrometry. A total of 142 proteins were identified: 96 upregulated and 46 downregulated proteins in the most virulent strain compared to less virulent. The interaction between the proteins identified in each evolutionary form was predicted. The results showed that in the amastigote form of the most virulent strain, there was a large group of proteins related to glycolysis, heat shock, and ribosomal proteins, whereas in the promastigote form, the group consisted of stress response, heat shock, and ribosomal proteins. In addition, biological processes related to metabolic pathways, ribosomes, and oxidative phosphorylation were enriched in the most virulent strain (BH400). Finally, we noted several proteins previously found to play important roles in L. infantum infection, which showed increased abundance in the virulent strain, such as ribosomal proteins, HSP70, enolase, fructose 1,6-biphosphate aldolase, peroxidoxin, and tryparedoxin peroxidase, many of which interact with each other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz Fialho Junior
- Laboratório de Leishmanioses, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP: 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Simone da Fonseca Pires
- Laboratório de Leishmanioses, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP: 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Richard Burchmore
- Glasgow Polyomics, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Campus, Glasgow, Scotland, G12 1QH, UK
| | - Suzanne McGill
- Glasgow Polyomics, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Campus, Glasgow, Scotland, G12 1QH, UK
| | - Stefan Weidt
- Glasgow Polyomics, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Campus, Glasgow, Scotland, G12 1QH, UK
| | - Jeronimo Conceição Ruiz
- Grupo Informática de Biossistemas e Genômica, Programa de Pós- Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Frederico Goncalves Guimarães
- Grupo Informática de Biossistemas e Genômica, Programa de Pós- Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Alexander Chapeourouge
- Laboratório de Toxinologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP: 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Jonas Perales
- Laboratório de Toxinologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP: 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Hélida Monteiro de Andrade
- Laboratório de Leishmanioses, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP: 31270-901, Brazil.
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Rombolà P, Barlozzari G, Carvelli A, Scarpulla M, Iacoponi F, Macrì G. Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with exposure to Leishmania infantum in dogs, in an endemic Mediterranean region. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0244923. [PMID: 33395452 PMCID: PMC7781377 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Leishmania infantum in the Mediterranean area and transmitted by phlebotomine sand fly vectors. The domestic dog is the main reservoir host. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of different individual, environmental and spatial risk factors on the dog exposure to L. infantum and to estimate the seroprevalence among owned and kennel dogs, in the Lazio region (central Italy), where canine leishmaniasis is endemic. In the period 2010-2014, 13,292 sera from kennel and owned dogs were collected by official and private veterinarians. The presence of anti-Leishmania IgG was analysed by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), using a 1:80 titre cut-off. At the univariable analysis, CanL seropositivity was associated with sex, size, breed, coat length, living with other dogs and forest/semi-natural land cover. At the multivariable analysis, age, ownership and attitude were confirmed as risk factors, being more than 2 years old, owned, and hunting dogs at higher risk. Being a Maremma sheepdog was a protective factor. A true overall seroprevalence of 6.7% (95% CI: 6.2-7.2) was estimated in the whole population while 7.3% (95% CI: 6.8-7.8) was estimated in kennel dogs and 74.3% (95% CI: 70.8-77.6) in owned dogs. The role of kennels as a key component for CanL active and passive surveillance was also highlighted. This study confirmed the endemicity of CanL in the Lazio region and focused some factors that can influence the seropositivity of dogs in a Mediterranean region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasquale Rombolà
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana ‘M. Aleandri’, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Barlozzari
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana ‘M. Aleandri’, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Carvelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana ‘M. Aleandri’, Rome, Italy
| | - Manuela Scarpulla
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana ‘M. Aleandri’, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Iacoponi
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Gladia Macrì
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana ‘M. Aleandri’, Rome, Italy
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Dixit UG, Rodríguez NE, Polando R, McDowell MA, Wilson ME. Complement receptor 3 mediates ruffle-like, actin-rich aggregates during phagocytosis of Leishmania infantum metacyclics. Exp Parasitol 2021; 220:107968. [PMID: 32781093 PMCID: PMC7750307 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2020.107968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The parasitic protozoan Leishmania infantum resides primarily in macrophages throughout mammalian infection. Infection is initiated by deposition of the metacyclic promastigote into the dermis of a mammalian host by the sand fly vector. Promastigotes enter macrophages by ligating surface receptors such as complement receptor 3 (CR3), inducing phagocytosis of the parasite. At the binding site of metacyclic promastigotes, we observed large asymmetrical aggregates of macrophage membrane with underlying actin, resembling membrane ruffles. Actin accumulation was observed at the point of initial contact, before phagosome formation and accumulation of peri-phagosomal actin. Ruffle-like structures did not form during phagocytosis of attenuated promastigotes or during phagocytosis of the intracellular amastigote form of L. infantum. Entry of promastigotes through massive actin accumulation was associated with a subsequent delay in fusion of the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) with the lysosomal markers LAMP-1 and Cathepsin D. Actin accumulation was also associated with entry through CR3, since macrophages from CD11b knockout (KO) mice did not form massive aggregates of actin during phagocytosis of metacyclic promastigotes. Furthermore, intracellular survival of L. infantum was significantly decreased in CD11b KO compared to wild type macrophages, although entry rates were similar. We conclude that both promastigote virulence and host cell CR3 are needed for the formation of ruffle-like membrane structures at the site of metacyclic promastigote phagocytosis, and that formation of actin-rich aggregates during entry correlates with the intracellular survival of virulent promastigotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Upasna Gaur Dixit
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Nilda E Rodríguez
- Department of Biology, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA, 50614, USA.
| | - Rachel Polando
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Mary Ann McDowell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Mary E Wilson
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA; Veterans' Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
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Marialva EF, Secundino NF, Fernandes FF, Araújo HRC, Ríos-Velásquez CM, Pimenta PFP, Pessoa FAC. Morphological aspects of immature stages of Migonemyia migonei (Diptera: Psychodidae, Phlebotominae), an important vector of Leishmaniosis in South America, described by scanning electron microscopy. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0242163. [PMID: 33180853 PMCID: PMC7660558 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe the immature stages of Migonemyia migonei, which is the vector of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, the etiological agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in South America, and a putative vector of Leishmania infantum chagasi. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to refine the description of the structures of the egg, all instar larvae, and the pupa. The eggs have polygonal cells on the egg exochorion, and differences between larval and pupal chaetotaxy have been highlighted. Different sensillary subtypes-trichoidea, basiconica, coelonica and campanoformia-were observed in the larval stages. The results presented herein contribute to the taxonomy of Mg. migonei and may contribute to future studies on the phylogeny of this important vector species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Fabrício Marialva
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Doenças Transmissíveis na Amazônia, Instituto Leônidas & Maria Deane - Fiocruz Amazônia, Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Biologia da Interação Patógeno Hospedeiro, Instituto Leônidas & Maria Deane - Fiocruz Amazônia, Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil
| | - Nágila F. Secundino
- Laboratório de Entomologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou - Fiocruz Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Fernando F. Fernandes
- Laboratório de Entomologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou - Fiocruz Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
- Divisão de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil
| | - Helena R. C. Araújo
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia Industrial, Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas do Estado de São Paulo (IPT), São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Claudia M. Ríos-Velásquez
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Doenças Transmissíveis na Amazônia, Instituto Leônidas & Maria Deane - Fiocruz Amazônia, Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil
| | - Paulo F. P. Pimenta
- Laboratório de Entomologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou - Fiocruz Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Felipe A. C. Pessoa
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Doenças Transmissíveis na Amazônia, Instituto Leônidas & Maria Deane - Fiocruz Amazônia, Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil
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Lima BSDS, Esteves BB, Fialho-Júnior LC, Mendes TADO, Pires SDF, Chapeourouge A, Perales J, de Andrade HM. Study of the differentially abundant proteins among Leishmania amazonensis, L. braziliensis, and L. infantum. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240612. [PMID: 33057350 PMCID: PMC7561129 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis has been considered as emerging and re-emerging disease, and its increasing global incidence has raised concerns. The great clinical diversity of the disease is mainly determined by the species. In several American countries, tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) is associated with both Leishmania amazonensis and L. braziliensis, while visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is associated with L. (L.) infantum. The major molecules that determine the most diverse biological variations are proteins. In the present study, through a DIGE approach, we identified differentially abundant proteins among the species mentioned above. We observed a variety of proteins with differential abundance among the studied species; and the biological networks predicted for each species showed that many of these proteins interacted with each other. The prominent proteins included the heat shock proteins (HSPs) and the protein network involved in oxide reduction process in L. amazonensis, the protein network of ribosomes in L. braziliensis, and the proteins involved in energy metabolism in L. infantum. The important proteins, as revealed by the PPI network results, enrichment categories, and exclusive proteins analysis, were arginase, HSPs, and trypanothione reductase in L. amazonensis; enolase, peroxidoxin, and tryparedoxin1 in L. braziliensis; and succinyl-CoA ligase [GDP -forming] beta-chain and transaldolase in L. infantum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Soares de Souza Lima
- Departamento de Medicina, Faculdade Dinâmica do Vale do Piranga (FADIP), Ponte Nova, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Laboratório de Leishmanioses, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Barbara Beiral Esteves
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Laboratório de Leishmanioses, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Luiz Carlos Fialho-Júnior
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Laboratório de Leishmanioses, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Simone da Fonseca Pires
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Laboratório de Leishmanioses, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Jonas Perales
- Laboratório de Toxinologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Helida Monteiro de Andrade
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Laboratório de Leishmanioses, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Van Bockstal L, Bulté D, Hendrickx S, Sadlova J, Volf P, Maes L, Caljon G. Impact of clinically acquired miltefosine resistance by Leishmania infantum on mouse and sand fly infection. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2020; 13:16-21. [PMID: 32388220 PMCID: PMC7215113 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2020.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Objectives This study evaluated the implications of clinically acquired miltefosine resistance (MIL-R) by assessing virulence in mice and sand flies to reveal the potential of MIL-R strains to circulate. Methods Experimental infections with the MIL-R clinical Leishmania infantum isolate MHOM/FR/2005/LEM5159, having a defect in the LiROS3 subunit of the MIL-transporter, and its syngeneic experimentally reconstituted MIL-S counterpart (LEM5159LiROS3) were performed in BALB/c mice and Lutzomyia longipalpis and Phlebotomus perniciosus sand flies. In mice, the amastigote burdens in liver and spleen were compared microscopically using Giemsa smears and by bioluminescent imaging. During the sand fly infections, the percentage of infected flies, parasite load, colonization of the stomodeal valve and metacyclogenesis were evaluated. The stability of the MIL-R phenotype after sand fly and mouse passage was determined as well. Results The fitness of the MIL-R strain differed between the mouse and sand fly infection model. In mice, a clear fitness loss was observed compared to the LiROS3-reconstituted susceptible strain. This defect could be rescued by episomal reconstitution with a wildtype LiROS3 copy. However, this fitness loss was not apparent in the sand fly vector, resulting in metacyclogenesis and efficient colonization of the stomodeal valve. Resistance was stable after passage in both sand fly and mouse. Conclusion The natural MIL-R strain is significantly hampered in its ability to multiply and cause a typical visceral infection pattern in BALB/c mice. However, this LiROS3-deficient strain efficiently produced mature infections and metacyclic promastigotes in the sand fly vector highlighting the transmission potential of this particular MIL-R clinical Leishmania strain. A clinical MIL-R L. infantum strain displays a loss-of-fitness in the mammalian host. ROS3-deficiency is compatible with efficient transmission by two sand fly species. Resistance is stable after mouse and sand fly passage. Transmission of this clinical MIL-R strain is a risk for immunocompromised patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lieselotte Van Bockstal
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Dimitri Bulté
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Sarah Hendrickx
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Jovana Sadlova
- Department of Parasitology, Charles University, Vinicna 7, CZ-12844, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Volf
- Department of Parasitology, Charles University, Vinicna 7, CZ-12844, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Louis Maes
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Guy Caljon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
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Sharifi-Rad M, Salehi B, Sharifi-Rad J, Setzer WN, Iriti M. Pulicaria vulgaris Gaertn. essential oil: an alternative or complementary treatment for Leishmaniasis. Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand) 2018; 64:18-21. [PMID: 29981679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected parasitic protozoal disease that affects approximately 12 million people and represents a public health problem in Iran. The objectives of this study were to obtain the essential oil (EO) from Pulicaria vulgaris Gaertn. growing in Iran and to carry out in-vitro antileishmanial screening of the EO against promastigotes of Leishmania major and Leishmania infantum. The EO from the aerial parts of P. vulgaris was extracted by hydrodistillation. Serial dilutions of the EO were screened for in-vitro antileishmanial activity using 96-well microtiter plates. The P. vulgaris EO was active against the promastigote forms of L. major and L. infantum, with IC50 values of 244.70 and 233.65 µg/mL, respectively. Pulicaria vulgaris EO may serve as an alternative or complementary treatment for leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Sharifi-Rad
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
| | - Bahar Salehi
- Medical Ethics and Law Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Javad Sharifi-Rad
- Phytochemistry Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - William N Setzer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899, USA
| | - Marcello Iriti
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Milan State University, Milan, Italy
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12
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Garde E, Ramírez L, Corvo L, Solana JC, Martín ME, González VM, Gómez-Nieto C, Barral A, Barral-Netto M, Requena JM, Iborra S, Soto M. Analysis of the Antigenic and Prophylactic Properties of the Leishmania Translation Initiation Factors eIF2 and eIF2B in Natural and Experimental Leishmaniasis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:112. [PMID: 29675401 PMCID: PMC5895769 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Different members of intracellular protein families are recognized by the immune system of the vertebrate host infected by parasites of the genus Leishmania. Here, we have analyzed the antigenic and immunogenic properties of the Leishmania eIF2 and eIF2B translation initiation factors. An in silico search in Leishmania infantum sequence databases allowed the identification of the genes encoding the α, β, and γ subunits and the α, β, and δ subunits of the putative Leishmania orthologs of the eukaryotic initiation factors F2 (LieIF2) or F2B (LieIF2B), respectively. The antigenicity of these factors was analyzed by ELISA using recombinant versions of the different subunits. Antibodies against the different LieIF2 and LieIF2B subunits were found in the sera from human and canine visceral leishmaniasis patients, and also in the sera from hamsters experimentally infected with L. infantum. In L. infantum (BALB/c) and Leishmania major (BALB/c or C57BL/6) challenged mice, a moderate humoral response against these protein factors was detected. Remarkably, these proteins elicited an IL-10 production by splenocytes derived from infected mice independently of the Leishmania species employed for experimental challenge. When DNA vaccines based on the expression of the LieIF2 or LieIF2B subunit encoding genes were administered in mice, an antigen-specific secretion of IFN-γ and IL-10 cytokines was observed. Furthermore, a partial protection against murine CL development due to L. major infection was generated in the vaccinated mice. Also, in this work we show that the LieIF2α subunit and the LieIF2Bβ and δ subunits have the capacity to stimulate IL-10 secretion by spleen cells from naïve mice. B-lymphocytes were identified as the major producers of this anti-inflammatory cytokine. Taking into account the data found in this study, it may be hypothesized that these proteins act as virulence factors implicated in the induction of humoral responses as well as in the production of the down-regulatory IL-10 cytokine, favoring a pathological outcome. Therefore, these proteins might be considered markers of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Garde
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Ramírez
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Corvo
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - José C. Solana
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - M. Elena Martín
- Departamento de Bioquímica-Investigación, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Víctor M. González
- Departamento de Bioquímica-Investigación, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Gómez-Nieto
- Parasitology Unit, LeishmanCeres Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Aldina Barral
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-FIOCRUZ, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Manoel Barral-Netto
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-FIOCRUZ, Salvador, Brazil
| | - José M. Requena
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Salvador Iborra
- Immunobiology of Inflammation Laboratory, Department of Vascular Biology and Inflammation, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Health Research Institute (imas12), Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Salvador Iborra
| | - Manuel Soto
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
- Manuel Soto
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Abstract
The study of host AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation during Leishmania infection imposes distinct types of techniques to measure protein expression and activation, as well as to quantify, at transcription and translational levels, its downstream targets. The investigation of host AMPK protein modulation during Leishmania infection should primarily be assessed during in vitro infections using as a host murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMos). The infection outcome is assessed measuring the percentage of infected cells in the context of BMMos. To evaluate AMPK activity during infection, the expression of AMPK phosphorylated at Thr172 as well as the transcription and translational levels of its downstream targets are evaluated by quantitative PCR and immunoblotting. The modulation of AMPK activity in vivo is determined specifically in sorted splenic macrophages harboring Leishmania parasites recovered from infected mice using fluorescent-labeled parasites in the infectious inocolum. The modulation of AMPK activity was assessed by AMPK activators and inhibitors and also using AMPK, SIRT1, or LKB1 KO mice models. The infection outcome in BMMos and in vivo was further determined using these two different approaches. To finally understand the metabolic impact of AMPK during infection, in vitro metabolic assays in infected BMMos were measured in the bioenergetic profile using an extracellular flux analyzer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Moreira
- Parasite Disease Group, IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular; Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, and Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3Bs-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Braga, Portugal
| | - Jérôme Estaquier
- CNRS FR 3636, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- Parasite Disease Group, IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular; Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, and Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Silvestre
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
- ICVS/3Bs-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Braga, Portugal.
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Lopes CS, Daifalla N, Das B, Dias da Silva V, Campos-Neto A. CD271+ Mesenchymal Stem Cells as a Possible Infectious Niche for Leishmania infantum. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0162927. [PMID: 27622907 PMCID: PMC5021359 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a serious and fatal disease. Therapeutic drugs are toxic and non-sterilizing. The etiological agents Leishmania infantum and Leishmania donovani cause active and asymptomatic diseases. Effective drugs to treat VL exist but unfortunately, post-treatment relapses are common. Little is known why drugs are non-sterilizing or how these intracellular pathogens can escape treatment. Here, using a murine model of VL we found that CD271+/Sca1+ bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) are readily infected in vitro and in vivo by L. infantum. Because BM-MSCs express potent drug efflux pumps, e.g., ABCG2 it is possible that this unique intracellular infectious niche could allow L. infantum to escape anti-parasite drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina S. Lopes
- The Forsyth Institute, Cambridge Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Physiology and Molecular Biology, Institute for Biological and Natural Sciences, Triângulo Mineiro Federal University, Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Nada Daifalla
- The Forsyth Institute, Cambridge Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Bikul Das
- The Forsyth Institute, Cambridge Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Valdo Dias da Silva
- Department of Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Physiology and Molecular Biology, Institute for Biological and Natural Sciences, Triângulo Mineiro Federal University, Uberaba, MG, Brazil
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15
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Schaut RG, Robles-Murguia M, Juelsgaard R, Esch KJ, Bartholomay LC, Ramalho-Ortigao M, Petersen CA. Vectorborne Transmission of Leishmania infantum from Hounds, United States. Emerg Infect Dis 2016; 21:2209-12. [PMID: 26583260 PMCID: PMC4672406 DOI: 10.3201/eid2112.141167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease caused by predominantly vectorborne Leishmania spp. In the United States, canine visceral leishmaniasis is common among hounds, and L. infantum vertical transmission among hounds has been confirmed. We found that L. infantum from hounds remains infective in sandflies, underscoring the risk for human exposure by vectorborne transmission.
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16
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Michel G, Ferrua B, Munro P, Boyer L, Mathal N, Gillet D, Marty P, Lemichez E. Immunoadjuvant Properties of the Rho Activating Factor CNF1 in Prophylactic and Curative Vaccination against Leishmania infantum. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0156363. [PMID: 27257862 PMCID: PMC4892475 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2016] [Accepted: 05/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a need to develop new effective immunoadjuvants for prophylactic or therapeutic vaccines against intracellular pathogens. The activation of Rho GTPases by bacterial cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 (CNF1) elicits humoral protective responses against protein antigens. Here, we set out to investigate whether CNF1 activity initiates humoral immunity against co-administered parasite antigens and anti-microbial immune signaling. We report that co-administration of wild-type (WT) CNF1 with Leishmania (L.) promastigote antigens at the nasal mucosa triggered prophylactic and curative vaccine responses against this parasite. Vaccination of the mucosa with promastigote lysate antigens combined with WT CNF1 conferred protection against high inoculum L. infantum infection, which reached 82% in the spleen. Immune parameter analysis by antigen recall indicated robust T-helper (Th)1 polarization of immune memory cells, with high IL-2 and IFN-γ production combined with decreased IL-4 production. Additionally, we explored the curative effect of WT CNF1 on previously infected animals. We observed that PL combined with WT CNF1, but not the inactive C866S mutant CNF1 (mCNF1), induced a 58% decrease in the parasite burden in the spleen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grégory Michel
- Inserm U1065, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Team “Microbial toxins in host pathogen interactions”, Equipe labellisée ligue contre le cancer, Nice, France
- Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Faculté de Médecine, Nice, France
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Nice, France
- * E-mail: (GM); (EL)
| | - Bernard Ferrua
- Inserm U1065, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Team “Microbial toxins in host pathogen interactions”, Equipe labellisée ligue contre le cancer, Nice, France
- Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Faculté de Médecine, Nice, France
| | - Patrick Munro
- Inserm U1065, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Team “Microbial toxins in host pathogen interactions”, Equipe labellisée ligue contre le cancer, Nice, France
- Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Faculté de Médecine, Nice, France
| | - Laurent Boyer
- Inserm U1065, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Team “Microbial toxins in host pathogen interactions”, Equipe labellisée ligue contre le cancer, Nice, France
- Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Faculté de Médecine, Nice, France
| | - Nassim Mathal
- CEA, iBiTecS, SIMOPRO, Paris Saclay University, LabEx LERMIT, Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Daniel Gillet
- CEA, iBiTecS, SIMOPRO, Paris Saclay University, LabEx LERMIT, Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Pierre Marty
- Inserm U1065, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Team “Microbial toxins in host pathogen interactions”, Equipe labellisée ligue contre le cancer, Nice, France
- Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Faculté de Médecine, Nice, France
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Nice, France
| | - Emmanuel Lemichez
- Inserm U1065, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Team “Microbial toxins in host pathogen interactions”, Equipe labellisée ligue contre le cancer, Nice, France
- Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Faculté de Médecine, Nice, France
- * E-mail: (GM); (EL)
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Alcolea PJ, Alonso A, Moreno-Izquierdo MA, Degayón MA, Moreno I, Larraga V. Serum Removal from Culture Induces Growth Arrest, Ploidy Alteration, Decrease in Infectivity and Differential Expression of Crucial Genes in Leishmania infantum Promastigotes. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0150172. [PMID: 26959417 PMCID: PMC4784933 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2015] [Accepted: 02/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania infantum is one of the species responsible for visceral leishmaniasis. This species is distributed basically in the Mediterranean basin. A recent outbreak in humans has been reported in Spain. Axenic cultures are performed for most procedures with Leishmania spp. promastigotes. This model is stable and reproducible and mimics the conditions of the gut of the sand fly host, which is the natural environment of promastigote development. Culture media are undefined because they contain mammalian serum, which is a rich source of complex lipids and proteins. Serum deprivation slows down the growth kinetics and therefore, yield in biomass. In fact, we have confirmed that the growth rate decreases, as well as infectivity. Ploidy is also affected. Regarding the transcriptome, a high-throughput approach has revealed a low differential expression rate but important differentially regulated genes. The most remarkable profiles are: up-regulation of the GINS Psf3, the fatty acyl-CoA synthase (FAS1), the glyoxylase I (GLO1), the hydrophilic surface protein B (HASPB), the methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase (MMCE) and an amastin gene; and down-regulation of the gPEPCK and the arginase. Implications for metabolic adaptations, differentiation and infectivity are discussed herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro J. Alcolea
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biology of Infections, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CIB-CSIC), Madrid. Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - Ana Alonso
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biology of Infections, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CIB-CSIC), Madrid. Spain
| | - Miguel A. Moreno-Izquierdo
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biology of Infections, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CIB-CSIC), Madrid. Spain
| | - María A. Degayón
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biology of Infections, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CIB-CSIC), Madrid. Spain
| | - Inmaculada Moreno
- Unit of Microbial Immunology, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Virología e Inmunología Sanitarias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CNM-ISCIII), Majadahonda, Spain
| | - Vicente Larraga
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biology of Infections, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CIB-CSIC), Madrid. Spain
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Faria J, Loureiro I, Santarém N, Macedo-Ribeiro S, Tavares J, Cordeiro-da-Silva A. Leishmania infantum Asparagine Synthetase A Is Dispensable for Parasites Survival and Infectivity. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004365. [PMID: 26771178 PMCID: PMC4714757 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing interest in asparagine (Asn) metabolism has currently been observed in cancer and infection fields. Asparagine synthetase (AS) is responsible for the conversion of aspartate into Asn in an ATP-dependent manner, using ammonia or glutamine as a nitrogen source. There are two structurally distinct AS: the strictly ammonia dependent, type A, and the type B, which preferably uses glutamine. Absent in humans and present in trypanosomatids, AS-A was worthy of exploring as a potential drug target candidate. Appealingly, it was reported that AS-A was essential in Leishmania donovani, making it a promising drug target. In the work herein we demonstrate that Leishmania infantum AS-A, similarly to Trypanosoma spp. and L. donovani, is able to use both ammonia and glutamine as nitrogen donors. Moreover, we have successfully generated LiASA null mutants by targeted gene replacement in L. infantum, and these parasites do not display any significant growth or infectivity defect. Indeed, a severe impairment of in vitro growth was only observed when null mutants were cultured in asparagine limiting conditions. Altogether our results demonstrate that despite being important under asparagine limitation, LiAS-A is not essential for parasite survival, growth or infectivity in normal in vitro and in vivo conditions. Therefore we exclude AS-A as a suitable drug target against L. infantum parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Faria
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Inês Loureiro
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Santarém
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sandra Macedo-Ribeiro
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Protein Crystallography Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Tavares
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Utsunomiya YT, Ribeiro ÉS, Quintal APN, Sangalli JR, Gazola VR, Paula HB, Trinconi CM, Lima VMF, Perri SHV, Taylor JF, Schnabel RD, Sonstegard TS, Garcia JF, Nunes CM. Genome-Wide Scan for Visceral Leishmaniasis in Mixed-Breed Dogs Identifies Candidate Genes Involved in T Helper Cells and Macrophage Signaling. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0136749. [PMID: 26348501 PMCID: PMC4562658 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2015] [Accepted: 08/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We conducted a genome-wide scan for visceral leishmaniasis in mixed-breed dogs from a highly endemic area in Brazil using 149,648 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers genotyped in 20 cases and 28 controls. Using a mixed model approach, we found two candidate loci on canine autosomes 1 and 2. The positional association on chromosome 2 mapped to a predicted DNAse sensitive site in CD14+ monocytes that serve as a cis-regulatory element for the expression of interleukin alpha receptors 2 (IL2RA) and 15 (IL15RA). Both interleukins were previously found to lead to protective T helper 1 cell (Th1) response against Leishmania spp. in humans and mice. The associated marker on chromosome 1 was located between two predicted transcription factor binding sites regulating the expression of the transducin-like enhancer of split 1 gene (TLE1), an important player in Notch signaling. This pathway is critical for macrophage activity and CD4+ T cell differentiation into Th1 and T helper 2. Together, these findings suggest that the human and mouse model for protective response against Leishmania spp., which involves Th1 and macrophage modulation by interleukins 2, 15, gamma interferon and Notch signaling, may also hold for the canine model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri T. Utsunomiya
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Reprodução Animal, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, UNESP—Univ Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Érica S. Ribeiro
- Departamento de Apoio, Saúde e Produção Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária de Araçatuba, UNESP—Univ Estadual Paulista, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Amanda P. N. Quintal
- Departamento de Apoio, Saúde e Produção Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária de Araçatuba, UNESP—Univ Estadual Paulista, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliano R. Sangalli
- Departamento de Apoio, Saúde e Produção Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária de Araçatuba, UNESP—Univ Estadual Paulista, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Valquiria R. Gazola
- Departamento de Apoio, Saúde e Produção Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária de Araçatuba, UNESP—Univ Estadual Paulista, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Henrique B. Paula
- Departamento de Apoio, Saúde e Produção Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária de Araçatuba, UNESP—Univ Estadual Paulista, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cristiana M. Trinconi
- Departamento de Apoio, Saúde e Produção Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária de Araçatuba, UNESP—Univ Estadual Paulista, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Valéria M. F. Lima
- Departamento de Apoio, Saúde e Produção Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária de Araçatuba, UNESP—Univ Estadual Paulista, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Silvia H. V. Perri
- Departamento de Apoio, Saúde e Produção Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária de Araçatuba, UNESP—Univ Estadual Paulista, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jeremy F. Taylor
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, 65211, United States of America
| | - Robert D. Schnabel
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, 65211, United States of America
| | - Tad S. Sonstegard
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, ARS-USDA—Agricultural Research Service—United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - José F. Garcia
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Reprodução Animal, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, UNESP—Univ Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
- Departamento de Apoio, Saúde e Produção Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária de Araçatuba, UNESP—Univ Estadual Paulista, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cáris M. Nunes
- Departamento de Apoio, Saúde e Produção Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária de Araçatuba, UNESP—Univ Estadual Paulista, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Saraiva L, Silva Reis A, Marteleto Nunes Rugani J, Sampaio Pereira AA, Rêgo FD, Vianna Mariano da Rocha Lima AC, Gontijo CMF, Andrade Filho JD. Survey of sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in an environmentally protected area in Brazil. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0134845. [PMID: 26267484 PMCID: PMC4534452 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2015] [Accepted: 07/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Brazil is one of the most important endemic areas for leishmaniasis worldwide. Protected areas that are tourist attractions likely present an important risk of transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Furthermore, with the geographical expansion of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), several studies have recorded the occurrence of its vector, Lutzomyia longipalpis, and cases of human and canine VL in such tourist areas. The Parque Estadual do Sumidouro is an environmentally protected area located in the Brazilian Cerrado biome and in an important area endemic for leishmaniasis in the state of Minas Gerais. The purpose of this study was to monitor the sand fly fauna in areas of tourist activity in the park. Sampling was performed every month, from September 2011 to August 2013, using CDC light traps at six sites of differing environmental characteristics. Sampled specimens were identified following Galati (2003), and females were submitted to molecular techniques for the detection and identification of Leishmania DNA. A total of 4,675 sand fly specimens of 25 species belonging to nine genera were collected. The most abundant species were Micropygomyia quinquefer, Lutzomyia renei and Pintomyia pessoai, although only Pi. pessoai is implicated in the transmission of Leishmania braziliensis. The species accumulation curve reached saturation on the 16th sampling event. Species richness, diversity and evenness differed among the sampled areas. The seasonal curve was not determined by a single unique species, and no single species was the most abundant in all environments sampled. The main vector of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum, Lutzomyia longipalpis, accounted for only 5.35% of the specimens collected. Proven or suspected vectors of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis were recorded, and one female of the cortellezzii complex tested positive for Le. braziliensis DNA. Even with a low infection rate (0.62%), these data indicate the circulation of the parasite and reinforce the need for entomological and epidemiological surveillance in the park and its surroundings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Saraiva
- Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses–Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou–FIOCRUZ–MINAS–Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715 Barro Preto, CP 1743, 30190–002 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - Alanna Silva Reis
- Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses–Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou–FIOCRUZ–MINAS–Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715 Barro Preto, CP 1743, 30190–002 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Jeronimo Marteleto Nunes Rugani
- Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses–Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou–FIOCRUZ–MINAS–Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715 Barro Preto, CP 1743, 30190–002 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Agnes Antônia Sampaio Pereira
- Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses–Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou–FIOCRUZ–MINAS–Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715 Barro Preto, CP 1743, 30190–002 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Felipe Dutra Rêgo
- Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses–Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou–FIOCRUZ–MINAS–Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715 Barro Preto, CP 1743, 30190–002 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Ana Cristina Vianna Mariano da Rocha Lima
- Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses–Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou–FIOCRUZ–MINAS–Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715 Barro Preto, CP 1743, 30190–002 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Célia Maria Ferreira Gontijo
- Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses–Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou–FIOCRUZ–MINAS–Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715 Barro Preto, CP 1743, 30190–002 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - José Dilermando Andrade Filho
- Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses–Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou–FIOCRUZ–MINAS–Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715 Barro Preto, CP 1743, 30190–002 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Adel A, Boughoufalah A, Saegerman C, De Deken R, Bouchene Z, Soukehal A, Berkvens D, Boelaert M. Epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis in Algeria: an update. PLoS One 2014; 9:e99207. [PMID: 24949958 PMCID: PMC4064973 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2014] [Accepted: 05/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), a zoonotic disease caused by Leishmania infantum, is endemic in Algeria. This report describes a retrospective epidemiological study conducted on human VL to document the epidemiological profile at national level. All human VL cases notified by the National Institute of Public Health between 1998 and 2008 were investigated. In parallel all VL cases admitted to the university hospitals of Algiers were surveyed to estimate the underreporting ratio. Fifteen hundred and sixty-two human VL cases were reported in Algeria between 1998–2008 with an average annual reported incidence rate of 0.45 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, of which 81.42% were in the age range of 0–4 years. Cases were detected year-round, with a peak notification in May and June. One hundred and seventy patients were admitted to the university hospitals in Algiers in the same period, of which less than one in ten had been officially notified. Splenomegaly, fever, pallor and pancytopenia were the main clinical and laboratory features. Meglumine antimoniate was the first-line therapy for paediatric VL whereas the conventional amphotericin B was used for adult patients. Visceral leishmaniasis in Algeria shows the epidemiological profile of a paediatric disease with a decrease of the annual reported incidence rate. However, vigilance is required because of huge underreporting and an apparent propagation towards the south.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amel Adel
- Institute of Veterinary Sciences, University Saad Dahlab, Blida, Algeria
- Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Applied to Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Amel Boughoufalah
- Department of Health Information, National Institute of Public Health, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Claude Saegerman
- Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Applied to Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Redgi De Deken
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | | | - Dirk Berkvens
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- * E-mail:
| | - Marleen Boelaert
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
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Chaouch M, Adams ER, Driss M, Ben Abderrazak S. LATENT CLASS ANALYSIS IN DIAGNOSTIC TESTS EVALUATION FOR CANINE LEISHMANIA INFANTUM INFECTION. Arch Inst Pasteur Tunis 2014; 91:51-55. [PMID: 26402970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Accurate assessment of diagnostic tests may be biased if an imperfect reference test is used for comparison; such a situation exists for the diagnosis of canine leishmaniasis. We compared classical diagnostic tests for Leishmania infantum with Latent Class Analysis (LCA), to assess whether we could make a more accurate calculation of diagnostic accuracy. Microscopy (Lymph node aspirate), serological test (IFAT), and molecular tests (LAMP and PCR) data were recorded for 75 dogs captured in Tunisian endemic area and suspected of leishmaniasis. Sensitivity and specificity estimates with the 2 x 2 contingency tables (Microscopy as gold standard) were broadly corroborated by LCA. However, the LCA provided a way to control the study limitations (small sample size) as well as for confounding factors. It also produces consistent estimates of the test characteristics. LCA estimation of the sensitivity and specifcity of the LAMP cpb assay (se: 68.7% [95% CI 573-80%] and sp: 86.2 [95% CI 749-975%]) is higher as compared to classical calculations (se: 54.2% [95% CI 38.2-69.5%] and sp: 80% [95% CI 65.2-89.5%). Considering the lack of an adequate reference standard, LCA proved to be a useful tool to independently evaluate diagnostic methods.
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do Nascimento PRP, Martins DRA, Monteiro GRG, Queiroz PV, Freire-Neto FP, Queiroz JW, Morais Lima ÁL, Jeronimo SMB. Association of pro-inflammatory cytokines and iron regulatory protein 2 (IRP2) with Leishmania burden in canine visceral leishmaniasis. PLoS One 2013; 8:e73873. [PMID: 24146743 PMCID: PMC3795717 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2012] [Accepted: 07/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania infantum infection in humans and dogs can evolve with a wide range of clinical presentations, varying from asymptomatic infections to visceral leishmaniasis. We hypothesized that the immune response elicited by L. infantum infection could modulate whether the host will remain asymptomatic or progress to disease. A total of 44 dogs naturally infected with L. infantum were studied. Leishmania burden was estimated in the blood and spleen by qPCR. The expression of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10 and Iron Regulatory Protein 2 (IRP2) were determined in the spleen by quantitative PCR. Sera cytokines were evaluated by ELISA. Dogs were grouped in quartiles according parasite burden. Increased expression of IFN-γ and TNF-α was associated with reduced Leishmania burden, whereas increased IL-10 and IRP2 expressions were associated with higher Leishmania load. Increased plasma albumin and IFN-γ expression explained 22.8% of the decrease in parasite burden in the spleen. These data confirm that lower IFN-γ response and higher IL-10 correlated with increased parasite load and severity of the visceral leishmaniasis in dogs. The balance between the branches of immune response and the intracellular iron availability could determine, in part, the course of Leishmania infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Ricardo Porfírio do Nascimento
- Department of Biochemistry, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
- Institute of Tropical Medicine of Rio Grande do Norte, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Daniella Regina Arantes Martins
- Institute of Tropical Medicine of Rio Grande do Norte, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
- Department of Biology and Genetics, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Glória Regina Góis Monteiro
- Institute of Tropical Medicine of Rio Grande do Norte, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
- Health Graduate Program, Health Science Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Paula Vivianne Queiroz
- College of Medicine, State University of Rio Grande do Norte, Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Francisco Paulo Freire-Neto
- Department of Biochemistry, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
- Institute of Tropical Medicine of Rio Grande do Norte, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - José Wilton Queiroz
- Institute of Tropical Medicine of Rio Grande do Norte, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
- Institute of Science and Technology of Tropical Diseases (INCT-DT), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Ádila Lorena Morais Lima
- Health Graduate Program, Health Science Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Selma Maria Bezerra Jeronimo
- Department of Biochemistry, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
- Institute of Tropical Medicine of Rio Grande do Norte, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
- Health Graduate Program, Health Science Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
- Institute of Science and Technology of Tropical Diseases (INCT-DT), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Evers G, Pohlen M, Berdel WE, Thoennissen NH, Titze U, Köhler G, Weckesser M, Anthoni C, Mesters RM. Visceral leishmaniasis clinically mimicking lymphoma. Ann Hematol 2013; 93:885-7. [PMID: 24061787 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-013-1896-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2013] [Accepted: 08/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Georg Evers
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital of Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149, Muenster, Germany,
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Dias ES, Michalsky ÉM, do Nascimento JC, Ferreira EDC, Lopes JV, Fortes-Dias CL. Detection of Leishmania infantum, the etiological agent of visceral leishmaniasis, in Lutzomyia neivai, a putative vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis. J Vector Ecol 2013; 38:193-196. [PMID: 23701627 DOI: 10.1111/j.1948-7134.2013.12028.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Edelberto Santos Dias
- Laboratório de Leishmanioses, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
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Foglia Manzillo V, Di Muccio T, Cappiello S, Scalone A, Paparcone R, Fiorentino E, Gizzarelli M, Gramiccia M, Gradoni L, Oliva G. Prospective study on the incidence and progression of clinical signs in naïve dogs naturally infected by Leishmania infantum. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2225. [PMID: 23675551 PMCID: PMC3649971 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2013] [Accepted: 04/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of clinical and clinicopathological signs associated with the progression of infection was evaluated prospectively in 329 naïve young dogs exposed to Leishmania infantum transmission and examined periodically during 22 months (M). The dogs were part of Leishmania vaccine investigations performed under natural conditions. Vaccinated groups were considered in the evaluation when the vaccine resulted non-protective and the appearance and progression of signs did not differ statistically from controls at each time point, otherwise only control groups were included. 115 beagles were part of 3 studies (A to C) performed in the same kennel; 214 owned dogs (29 breeds, 2.3% beagles) were included in a study (D) performed in 45 endemic sites. At M22 the prevalence of any Leishmania infection stage classified as subpatent, active asymptomatic, or symptomatic was 59.8% in studies A-C and 29.2% in study D. Despite different breed composition and infection incidence, the relative proportion of active infections and the progression and type of clinical and clinicopathological signs have been similar in both study sets. All asymptomatic active infections recorded have invariably progressed to full-blown disease, resulting in 56 sick dogs at M22. In these dogs, lymph nodes enlargement and weight loss--recorded from M12--were the most common signs. Cutaneous signs were seen late (M18) and less frequently. Ocular signs appeared even later, being sporadically recorded at M22. Most clinicopathological alterations became evident from M12, although a few cases of thrombocytopenia or mild non-regenerative anemia were already observed at M6. Albumin/globulin inversions were recorded from M12 and urea/creatinine increase appeared mostly from M18. Altogether our findings indicate that any susceptible young dogs naturally infected by L. infantum present a common pattern of progression of signs during 2 years post infection, providing clues for medical and epidemiological applied aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Trentina Di Muccio
- Unit of Vector-borne Diseases and International Health, MIPI Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Sivia Cappiello
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Aldo Scalone
- Unit of Vector-borne Diseases and International Health, MIPI Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosa Paparcone
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Eleonora Fiorentino
- Unit of Vector-borne Diseases and International Health, MIPI Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Manuela Gizzarelli
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Marina Gramiccia
- Unit of Vector-borne Diseases and International Health, MIPI Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Gradoni
- Unit of Vector-borne Diseases and International Health, MIPI Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Gaetano Oliva
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Cunha J, Carrillo E, Sánchez C, Cruz I, Moreno J, Cordeiro-da-Silva A. Characterization of the biology and infectivity of Leishmania infantum viscerotropic and dermotropic strains isolated from HIV+ and HIV- patients in the murine model of visceral leishmaniasis. Parasit Vectors 2013; 6:122. [PMID: 23622683 PMCID: PMC3649922 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2013] [Accepted: 04/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leishmaniasis is a group of diseases with a variety of clinical manifestations. The form of the disease is highly dependent on the infective Leishmania species and the immunological status of the host. The infectivity of the parasite strain also plays an important role in the progression of the infection. The aim of this work is to understand the influence of the natural infectivity of Leishmania strains in the outcome of visceral leishmaniasis. METHODS In this study we have characterized four strains of L. infantum in terms of molecular typing, in vitro cultivation and differentiation. Two strains were isolated from HIV+ patients with visceral leishmaniasis (Bibiano and E390M), one strain was isolated from a cutaneous lesion in an immunocompetent patient (HL) and another internal reference strain causative of visceral leishmaniasis (ST) also from an immunocompetent patient was used for comparison. For this objective, we have compared their virulence by in vitro and in vivo infectivity in a murine model of visceral leishmaniasis. RESULTS Molecular typing unraveled a new k26 sequence attributed to MON-284 zymodeme and allowed the generation of a molecular signature for the identification of each strain. In vitro cultivation enabled the production of promastigotes with comparable growth curves and metacyclogenesis development. The HL strain was the most infective, showing the highest parasite loads in vitro that were corroborated with the in vivo assays, 6 weeks post-infection in BALB/c mice. The two strains isolated from HIV+ patients, both belonging to two different zymodemes, revealed different kinetics of infection. CONCLUSION Differences in in vitro and in vivo infectivity found in the murine model were then attributed to intrinsic characteristics of each strain. This work is supported by other studies that present the parasite's inherent features as factors for the multiplicity of clinical manifestations and severity of leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Cunha
- Parasite Disease Group, Unit of Infection and Immunity, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 823, Porto, 4150-180, Portugal
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar and Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Eugenia Carrillo
- WHO Collaborating Center for Leishmaniasis, Centro Nacional de Microbiologia, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Sánchez
- WHO Collaborating Center for Leishmaniasis, Centro Nacional de Microbiologia, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Israel Cruz
- WHO Collaborating Center for Leishmaniasis, Centro Nacional de Microbiologia, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Moreno
- WHO Collaborating Center for Leishmaniasis, Centro Nacional de Microbiologia, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- Parasite Disease Group, Unit of Infection and Immunity, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 823, Porto, 4150-180, Portugal
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Ferreira SDA, Almeida GG, Silva SDO, Vogas GP, Fujiwara RT, de Andrade ASR, Melo MN. Nasal, oral and ear swabs for canine visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis: new practical approaches for detection of Leishmania infantum DNA. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2150. [PMID: 23593518 PMCID: PMC3617150 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2012] [Accepted: 02/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential use of nasal, oral, and ear swabs for molecular diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in an endemic urban area in Brazil. Methodology/Principal Findings Sixty-two naturally infected and ten healthy dogs were enrolled in this study. Bone marrow aspirates, peripheral blood, skin biopsy, and conjunctival, nasal, oral, and ear swabs were collected. All samples, except blood, were submitted to conventional PCR (cPCR) and quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) to detect and quantify Leishmania infantum DNA, respectively. All dogs were submitted to thorough clinical analysis and were included based on a combination of serological (ELISA immunoassay and immunofluorescent antibody test) and parasitological methods. The cPCR positivity obtained from nasal swab samples was 87% (54/62), equivalent to those from other samples (P>0.05). Positive results were obtained for 79% (22/28) in oral swabs and 43% (12/28) in ear swab samples. A significant difference was observed between these data (P = 0.013), and the frequency of positive results from oral swab was equivalent to those from other samples (P>0.05). The use of ear swab samples for cPCR assays is promising because its result was equivalent to skin biopsy data (P>0.05). The qPCR data revealed that parasite loads in mucosal tissues were similar (P>0.05), but significantly lower than the parasite burden observed in bone marrow and skin samples (P<0.05). Conclusions Nasal and oral swab samples showed a high potential for the qualitative molecular diagnosis of CVL because their results were equivalent to those observed in samples collected invasively. Considering that mucosae swab collections are painless, noninvasive, fast and practical, the combination of these samples would be useful in massive screening of dogs. This work highlights the potential of practical approaches for molecular diagnosis of CVL and human leishmaniasis infections. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an important public health problem in different regions of the world. It presents high lethality in human cases without suitable treatment and is considered one of the most important disorders in dogs, the main domestic reservoir of the etiological agent of VL (Leishmania infantum). Most cases of VL in Latin America occur in Brazil, and control campaigns have not shown satisfactory results. The diagnosis of human and canine infection is critical for making decisions regarding surveillance and control policies. In this work, we propose a non-invasive collection method of mucosal and epithelial cells for the molecular diagnosis of canine VL by conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR) and for the estimation of parasite load by quantitative real time PCR (qPCR). We used nasal, oral, and ear swabs as practical, simple, painless and fast alternatives for collecting samples. These procedures are according to the need of more simplified methods for detecting L. infantum infection by using robust diagnostic techniques such as cPCR and qPCR. Additionally, potential applications for diagnosing human VL are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidney de Almeida Ferreira
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brasil
| | - Gregório Guilherme Almeida
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brasil
| | - Soraia de Oliveira Silva
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brasil
| | - Gabriela Peixoto Vogas
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brasil
| | - Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brasil
| | - Antero Silva Ribeiro de Andrade
- Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear, Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear, Campus da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil
| | - Maria Norma Melo
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brasil
- * E-mail:
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Otranto D, Dantas-Torres F, de Caprariis D, Di Paola G, Tarallo VD, Latrofa MS, Lia RP, Annoscia G, Breitshwerdt EB, Cantacessi C, Capelli G, Stanneck D. Prevention of canine leishmaniosis in a hyper-endemic area using a combination of 10% imidacloprid/4.5% flumethrin. PLoS One 2013; 8:e56374. [PMID: 23451043 PMCID: PMC3581506 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2012] [Accepted: 01/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Dogs are the main reservoir hosts of Leishmania infantum, the agent of human zoonotic visceral leishmaniosis. This study investigated the efficacy of a polymer matrix collar containing a combination of 10% imidacloprid and 4.5% flumethrin as a novel prophylactic measure to prevent L. infantum infections in young dogs from a hyper-endemic area of southern Italy, with a view towards enhancing current control strategies against both human and canine leishmaniosis. Methodology/Principal Findings The study was carried out on 124 young dogs, of which 63 were collared (Group A) while 61 were left untreated (Group B), from March-April 2011 until March 2012. Blood and skin samples were collected at baseline (April 2011) and at the first, second, third and fourth follow-up time points (July, September 2011 and November 2011, and March 2012, respectively). Bone marrow and conjunctiva were sampled at baseline and at the fourth follow-up. Serological, cytological and molecular tests were performed to detect the presence of L. infantum in the different tissues collected. At the end of the trial, no dog from Group A proved positive for L. infantum at any follow-up, whereas 22 dogs from Group B were infected (incidence density rate = 45.1%); therefore, the combination of 10% imidacloprid and 4.5% flumethrin was 100% efficacious for the prevention of L. infantum infection in young dogs prior to their first exposure to the parasite in a hyper-endemic area for CanL. Conclusions The use of collars containing 10% imidacloprid and 4.5% flumethrin conferred long-term protection against infection by L. infantum to dogs located in a hyper-endemic area, thus representing a reliable and sustainable strategy to decrease the frequency and spread of this disease among the canine population which will ultimately result in the reduction of associated risks to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Otranto
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, Italy.
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Carrión J, Abengozar MA, Fernández-Reyes M, Sánchez-Martín C, Rial E, Domínguez-Bernal G, González-Barroso MM. UCP2 deficiency helps to restrict the pathogenesis of experimental cutaneous and visceral leishmaniosis in mice. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2077. [PMID: 23437414 PMCID: PMC3578745 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2012] [Accepted: 01/11/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) is a mitochondrial transporter that has been shown to lower the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Intracellular pathogens such as Leishmania upregulate UCP2 and thereby suppress ROS production in infected host tissues, allowing the multiplication of parasites within murine phagocytes. This makes host UCP2 and ROS production potential targets in the development of antileishmanial therapies. Here we explore how UCP2 affects the outcome of cutaneous leishmaniosis (CL) and visceral leishmaniosis (VL) in wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice and in C57BL/6 mice lacking the UCP2 gene (UCP2KO). METHODOLOGY AND FINDINGS To investigate the effects of host UCP2 deficiency on Leishmania infection, we evaluated parasite loads and cytokine production in target organs. Parasite loads were significantly lower in infected UCP2KO mice than in infected WT mice. We also found that UCP2KO mice produced significantly more interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-17 and IL-13 than WT mice (P<0.05), suggesting that UCP2KO mice are resistant to Leishmania infection. CONCLUSIONS In this way, UCP2KO mice were better able than their WT counterparts to overcome L. major and L. infantum infections. These findings suggest that upregulating host ROS levels, perhaps by inhibiting UPC2, may be an effective approach to preventing leishmaniosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Carrión
- Department of Animal Health, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
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31
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Grimaldi G, Teva A, Santos CB, Ferreira AL, Falqueto A. The effect of removing potentially infectious dogs on the numbers of canine Leishmania infantum infections in an endemic area with high transmission rates. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2012; 86:966-71. [PMID: 22665602 PMCID: PMC3366541 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.12-0040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2012] [Accepted: 03/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
To assess the effect of the rapid removal of potentially infectious dogs on the prevalence and incidence of canine infections, a prospective study was undertaken in an area endemic for Leishmania infantum. We used serological testing based on the rapid DPP rK28 fusion protein chromatographic immunoassay for this dog screening-and-culling intervention trial. The outcome was evaluated by measuring seropositivity and sero-conversion/-reversion rates for canine infection. Our estimates indicated that concomitant detection and elimination of seropositive dogs with active disease may affect the numbers of canine infections and disease burden temporarily, although it is insufficient as a measure to interrupt the zoonotic L. infantum transmission. However, most of the asymptomatic, seropositive dogs continuously exhibit low levels of antibodies and/or reverted, remaining seronegative thereafter. In the process of waiting for an effective vaccine, one option for canine reservoir control may be to identify these possibly genetically resistant animals and promote their expansion in the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Grimaldi
- Laboratório de Patologia e Biointervenção/CPqGM, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
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32
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Ferreira GEM, dos Santos BN, Dorval MEC, Ramos TPB, Porrozzi R, Peixoto AA, Cupolillo E. The genetic structure of Leishmania infantum populations in Brazil and its possible association with the transmission cycle of visceral leishmaniasis. PLoS One 2012; 7:e36242. [PMID: 22606248 PMCID: PMC3350531 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2011] [Accepted: 03/31/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania infantum is the etiologic agent of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the Americas, Mediterranean basin and West and Central Asia. Although the geographic structure of L. infantum populations from the Old World have been described, few studies have addressed the population structure of this parasite in the Neotropical region. We employed 14 microsatellites to analyze the population structure of the L. infantum strains isolated from humans and dogs from most of the Brazilian states endemic for VL and from Paraguay. The results indicate a low genetic diversity, high inbreeding estimates and a depletion of heterozygotes, which together indicate a predominantly clonal breeding system, but signs of sexual events are also present. Three populations were identified from the clustering analysis, and they were well supported by F statistics inferences and partially corroborated by distance-based. POP1 (111 strains) was observed in all but one endemic area. POP2 (31 strains) is also well-dispersed, but it was the predominant population in Mato Grosso (MT). POP3 (31 strains) was less dispersed, and it was observed primarily in Mato Grosso do Sul (MS). Strains originated from an outbreak of canine VL in Southern Brazil were grouped in POP1 with those from Paraguay, which corroborates the hypothesis of dispersal from Northeastern Argentina and Paraguay. The distribution of VL in MS seems to follow the west-east construction of the Bolivia-Brazil pipeline from Corumbá municipality. This may have resulted in a strong association of POP3 and Lutzomyia cruzi, which is the main VL vector in Corumbá, and a dispersion of this population in this region that was shaped by human interference. This vector also occurs in MT and may influence the structure of POP2. This paper presents significant advances in the understanding of the population structure of L. infantum in Brazil and its association with eco-epidemiological aspects of VL.
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Riera C, Verges M, Iniesta L, Fisa R, Gállego M, Tebar S, Portús M. Identification of a Western blot pattern for the specific diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in human sera. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2012; 86:412-416. [PMID: 22403310 PMCID: PMC3284355 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.10-0111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2011] [Accepted: 07/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A Western blot (WB) method using a lysate from Trypanosoma cruzi (Maracay strain) epimastigotes was evaluated. Serum samples from 37 patients with confirmed Chagas disease (cohort I), 27 Spanish patients with visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum (cohort II), and 28 Colombian patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. panamensis and negative serology for Chagas disease (cohort III) were tested. The negative controls were 55 healthy seronegative subjects for T. cruzi and Leishmania; 28 of the negative controls were from a region endemic for Chagas disease and Leishmania (cohort IV), and 27 of the negative controls were from a non-endemic area for Leishmania and T. cruzi (cohort V). A homogeneous standard band pattern consisting of six antigenic bands corresponding to 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, and 48 kDa was recognized simultaneously for all Chagasic patients' sera. Sera from Leishmania-infected patients showed a heterogeneous band pattern that was easily differentiated from the pattern of patients with Chagas disease. WB with T. cruzi epimastigote antigen is an efficient method for diagnosis and may be used as an alternative to confirm T. cruzi and detect cross-reactivity with Leishmania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Riera
- Laboratori de Parasitologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.
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34
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Riera C, Verges M, Iniesta L, Fisa R, Gállego M, Tebar S, Portús M. Identification of a Western blot pattern for the specific diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in human sera. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2012; 86:412-6. [PMID: 22403310 PMCID: PMC3284355 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2011] [Accepted: 07/25/2011] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
A Western blot (WB) method using a lysate from Trypanosoma cruzi (Maracay strain) epimastigotes was evaluated. Serum samples from 37 patients with confirmed Chagas disease (cohort I), 27 Spanish patients with visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum (cohort II), and 28 Colombian patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. panamensis and negative serology for Chagas disease (cohort III) were tested. The negative controls were 55 healthy seronegative subjects for T. cruzi and Leishmania; 28 of the negative controls were from a region endemic for Chagas disease and Leishmania (cohort IV), and 27 of the negative controls were from a non-endemic area for Leishmania and T. cruzi (cohort V). A homogeneous standard band pattern consisting of six antigenic bands corresponding to 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, and 48 kDa was recognized simultaneously for all Chagasic patients' sera. Sera from Leishmania-infected patients showed a heterogeneous band pattern that was easily differentiated from the pattern of patients with Chagas disease. WB with T. cruzi epimastigote antigen is an efficient method for diagnosis and may be used as an alternative to confirm T. cruzi and detect cross-reactivity with Leishmania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Riera
- Laboratori de Parasitologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.
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35
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Moreira D, Santarém N, Loureiro I, Tavares J, Silva AM, Amorim AM, Ouaissi A, Cordeiro-da-Silva A, Silvestre R. Impact of continuous axenic cultivation in Leishmania infantum virulence. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2012; 6:e1469. [PMID: 22292094 PMCID: PMC3265455 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2011] [Accepted: 11/20/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Experimental infections with visceral Leishmania spp. are frequently performed referring to stationary parasite cultures that are comprised of a mixture of metacyclic and non-metacyclic parasites often with little regard to time of culture and metacyclic purification. This may lead to misleading or irreproducible experimental data. It is known that the maintenance of Leishmania spp. in vitro results in a progressive loss of virulence that can be reverted by passage in a mammalian host. In the present study, we aimed to characterize the loss of virulence in culture comparing the in vitro and in vivo infection and immunological profile of L. infantum stationary promastigotes submitted to successive periods of in vitro cultivation. To evaluate the effect of axenic in vitro culture in parasite virulence, we submitted L. infantum promastigotes to 4, 21 or 31 successive in vitro passages. Our results demonstrated a rapid and significant loss of parasite virulence when parasites are sustained in axenic culture. Strikingly, the parasite capacity to modulate macrophage activation decreased significantly with the augmentation of the number of in vitro passages. We validated these in vitro observations using an experimental murine model of infection. A significant correlation was found between higher parasite burdens and lower number of in vitro passages in infected Balb/c mice. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that the virulence deficit caused by successive in vitro passages results from an inadequate capacity to differentiate into amastigote forms. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that the use of parasites with distinct periods of axenic in vitro culture induce distinct infection rates and immunological responses and correlated this phenotype with a rapid loss of promastigote differentiation capacity. These results highlight the need for a standard operating protocol (SOP) when studying Leishmania species. Protozoan of the genus Leishmania undergo several developmental transitions during its life cycle. Leishmania alternates between two morphologically distinct forms, promastigotes (insect stage) and amastigotes (vertebrate stage). Most of the available information about Leishmania spp. has been obtained from studying in vitro cultured promastigotes, an excellent experimental model for the different developmental stages present in the insect vector. Although promastigotes are grown in a controlled environment, the maintenance of long term culture results in loss of virulence, which can lead to a misinterpretation and often contradictory experimental results. It is then of great interest to unravel the defects arising from sustained axenic parasite culture in laboratory settings. The authors demonstrate a correlation between the maintenance of parasite culture with a growing defect of the promastigote form to differentiate in the mammalian amastigote form. This research provides a biological explanation for the loss of virulence due to sustained parasite culture and discusses the impact for all experimental work done with visceral Leishmania species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Moreira
- Parasite Disease Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Santarém
- Parasite Disease Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Inês Loureiro
- Parasite Disease Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Tavares
- Parasite Disease Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Marta Silva
- Parasite Disease Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Marina Amorim
- Parasite Disease Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ali Ouaissi
- Parasite Disease Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- INSERM, UMR, CNRS 5235, Université Montpellier II, Montpellier, France
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- Parasite Disease Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Silvestre
- Parasite Disease Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- * E-mail:
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36
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Oliveira DM, Costa MAF, Chavez-Fumagalli MA, Valadares DG, Duarte MC, Costa LE, Martins VT, Gomes RF, Melo MN, Soto M, Tavares CAP, Coelho EAF. Evaluation of parasitological and immunological parameters of Leishmania chagasi infection in BALB/c mice using different doses and routes of inoculation of parasites. Parasitol Res 2011; 110:1277-85. [PMID: 21915627 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-011-2628-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2010] [Accepted: 08/29/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Experimental vaccines to protect against visceral leishmaniasis (VL) have been developed by using BALB/c mice infected with a large (10⁷ to 10⁸) inoculum of parasites. Remarkably, prior literature has reported that the poor protection observed is mainly due to the high susceptibility of this strain. To determine factors inherent to mice that might abrogate vaccine-induced efficacy, the present research sought to investigate the impact of the administration of different infective inoculums of Leishmania chagasi (syn. L. infantum) in BALB/c mice, evaluating subcutaneous and intravenous routes of administration as well as parasitological and immunological parameters over different periods of time. This study shows that the injection of a highly infective inoculum in mice, through both subcutaneous and intravenous routes, results in a sustained infection. The mice developed a high parasite load in the liver; however, these values diminished over time. This result did not corroborate with the parasite load in the bone marrow and brain and proved to be expressively different in the spleen and draining lymph nodes, where the values increased over time. Mice infected with a low dose of parasites (10³) showed a certain resistance against infection, based mainly on the IFN-γ and oxide nitric production. Considering all the elements, it could be concluded that the models employing high doses (10⁷) of L. chagasi in BALB/c mice can bring about an imbalance in the animals' immune response, thus allowing for the development of the disease at the expense of efficacy within the vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dulcilene M Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31.270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Quaresma PF, Rêgo FD, Botelho HA, da Silva SR, Moura Júnior AJ, Teixeira Neto RG, Madeira FM, Carvalho MB, Paglia AP, Melo MN, Gontijo CMFF. Wild, synanthropic and domestic hosts of Leishmania in an endemic area of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2011; 105:579-85. [PMID: 21890159 DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2011.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2010] [Revised: 07/08/2011] [Accepted: 07/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Domestic, synanthropic and wild hosts of Leishmania spp. parasites were studied in an area endemic for American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL), specifically in northern Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Domestic dogs and small forest mammals are reservoir hosts for L. (Leishmania) infantum. However, the role that these animals play in the transmission cycle of the Leishmania spp. that cause cutaneous leishmaniasis is not well known. This study evaluated 72 rodents, 25 marsupials and 98 domestic dogs found in two villages of the Xakriabá Indigenous Territory, an area of intense ATL transmission. A total of 23 dogs (23.47%) were shown to be positive according to at least one test; 8 dogs (8.16%) tested positive in a single serological test and 15 dogs (15.31%) tested positive by IFAT and ELISA. Eleven dogs were euthanised to allow for molecular diagnosis, of which nine (81.8%) tested positive by PCR for Leishmania in at least one tissue. Seven animals were infected only with L. (L.) infantum, whilst two displayed a mixed infection of L. (L.) infantum and L. (V.) braziliensis. Isoenzymatic characterisation identified L. (L.) infantum parasites isolated from the bone marrow of two dogs. Of the 97 small mammals captured, 24 tested positive for Leishmania by PCR. The results showed that L. (V.) braziliensis, L. (L.) infantum and L. (V.) guyanensis are circulating among wild and synanthropic mammals present in the Xakriabá Reserve, highlighting the epidemiological diversity of ATL in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia F Quaresma
- Laboratório de Leishmanioses, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715 Barro Preto, 30190-002 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Maia C, Seblova V, Sadlova J, Votypka J, Volf P. Experimental transmission of Leishmania infantum by two major vectors: a comparison between a viscerotropic and a dermotropic strain. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2011; 5:e1181. [PMID: 21695108 PMCID: PMC3114756 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2011] [Accepted: 04/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We quantified Leishmania infantum parasites transmitted by natural vectors for the first time. Both L. infantum strains studied, dermotropic CUK3 and viscerotropic IMT373, developed well in Phlebotomus perniciosus and Lutzomyia longipalpis. They produced heavy late-stage infection and colonized the stomodeal valve, which is a prerequisite for successful transmission. Infected sand fly females, and especially those that transmit parasites, feed significantly longer on the host (1.5–1.8 times) than non-transmitting females. Quantitative PCR revealed that P. perniciosus harboured more CUK3 strain parasites, while in L. longipalpis the intensity of infection was higher for the IMT373 strain. However, in both sand fly species the parasite load transmitted was higher for the strain with dermal tropism (CUK3). All but one sand fly female infected by the IMT373 strain transmitted less than 600 promastigotes; in contrast, 29% of L. longipalpis and 14% of P. perniciosus infected with the CUK3 strain transmitted more than 1000 parasites. The parasite number transmitted by individual sand flies ranged from 4 up to 4.19×104 promastigotes; thus, the maximal natural dose found was still about 250 times lower than the experimental challenge dose used in previous studies. This finding emphasizes the importance of determining the natural infective dose for the development of an accurate experimental model useful for the evaluation of new drugs and vaccines. Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by protozoan parasites which are transmitted through the bites of infected insects called sand flies. The World Health Organization has estimated that leishmaniases cause 1.6 million new cases annually, of which an estimated 1.1 million are cutaneous or mucocutaneous, and 500,000 are visceral, the most severe form of the disease and fatal if left untreated. The development of a more natural model is crucial for the evaluation of new drugs or vaccine candidates against leishmaniases. The main aim of this study was to quantify the number of Leishmania infantum parasites transmitted by a single sand fly female into the skin of a vertebrate host (mouse). Two L. infantum strains, viscerotropic IMT373 and dermotropic CUK3, were compared in two natural sand fly vectors: Phlebotomus perniciosus and Lutzomyia longipalpis. We found that the parasite number transmitted by individual sand flies ranged from 4 up to 4.19×104. The maximal natural infective dose found in our experiments was about 250 times lower than the experimental challenge dose used in most previous studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Maia
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Sciences, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Centro de Malária e Doenças Tropicais, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Veronika Seblova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Sciences, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jovana Sadlova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Sciences, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Votypka
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Sciences, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Volf
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Sciences, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- * E-mail:
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Maia C, Nunes M, Cristóvão J, Campino L. Experimental canine leishmaniasis: clinical, parasitological and serological follow-up. Acta Trop 2010; 116:193-9. [PMID: 20696122 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2010.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2010] [Revised: 07/29/2010] [Accepted: 08/02/2010] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) caused by Leishmania infantum is transmitted by the bite of phlebotomine sand flies and affects millions of dogs in Europe, Asia, North Africa and South America. Canis familiaris is the major host for these parasites, and the main reservoir for human visceral infection. The development of effective molecules for therapy and immunoprophylaxis, would be an important tool in the control of this zoonosis. The aim of this study was to characterize an experimental CanL model in order to determine the best challenge model and which parameters are the most reliable to evaluate the efficacy of new drugs or vaccine candidates against L. infantum infection. The intravenous challenge with purified amastigotes used in this study allowed the development of infection in all animals inoculated (as confirmed by the detection of parasite in the different tissues and organs collected 6 months after inoculation). Molecular and serologic techniques were efficient methods for the follow-up. Lymph node and bone marrow aspirates were suitable clinical samples to detect the presence of Leishmania parasites. Despite ELISA was highly sensitive in detecting specific anti-Leishmania antibodies the use of two tests can improve the sensitivity and specificity of serological diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Maia
- Unidade de Leishmanioses, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira 100, Lisbon, Portugal.
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Wilson R, Bates MD, Dostalova A, Jecna L, Dillon RJ, Volf P, Bates PA. Stage-specific adhesion of Leishmania promastigotes to sand fly midguts assessed using an improved comparative binding assay. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2010; 4. [PMID: 20838647 PMCID: PMC2935393 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0000816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2010] [Accepted: 08/10/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The binding of Leishmania promastigotes to the midgut epithelium is regarded as an essential part of the life-cycle in the sand fly vector, enabling the parasites to persist beyond the initial blood meal phase and establish the infection. However, the precise nature of the promastigote stage(s) that mediate binding is not fully understood. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS To address this issue we have developed an in vitro gut binding assay in which two promastigote populations are labelled with different fluorescent dyes and compete for binding to dissected sand fly midguts. Binding of procyclic, nectomonad, leptomonad and metacyclic promastigotes of Leishmania infantum and L. mexicana to the midguts of blood-fed, female Lutzomyia longipalpis was investigated. The results show that procyclic and metacyclic promastigotes do not bind to the midgut epithelium in significant numbers, whereas nectomonad and leptomonad promastigotes both bind strongly and in similar numbers. The assay was then used to compare the binding of a range of different parasite species (L. infantum, L. mexicana, L. braziliensis, L. major, L. tropica) to guts dissected from various sand flies (Lu. longipalpis, Phlebotomus papatasi, P. sergenti). The results of these comparisons were in many cases in line with expectations, the natural parasite binding most effectively to its natural vector, and no examples were found where a parasite was unable to bind to its natural vector. However, there were interesting exceptions: L. major and L. tropica being able to bind to Lu. longipalpis better than L. infantum; L. braziliensis was able to bind to P. papatasi as well as L. major; and significant binding of L. major to P. sergenti and L. tropica to P. papatasi was observed. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The results demonstrate that Leishmania gut binding is strictly stage-dependent, is a property of those forms found in the middle phase of development (nectomonad and leptomonad forms), but is absent in the early blood meal and final stages (procyclic and metacyclic forms). Further they show that although gut binding may be necessary for parasite establishment, in several vector-parasite pairs the specificity of such in vitro binding alone is insufficient to explain overall vector specificity. Other significant barriers to development must exist in certain refractory Leishmania parasite-sand fly vector combinations. A re-appraisal of the specificity of the Leishmania-sand fly relationship is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond Wilson
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | | | - Anna Dostalova
- Department of Parasitology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Jecna
- Department of Parasitology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Rod J. Dillon
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Petr Volf
- Department of Parasitology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Paul A. Bates
- School of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Manna L, Vitale F, Reale S, Picillo E, Neglia G, Vescio F, Gravino AE. Study of efficacy of miltefosine and allopurinol in dogs with leishmaniosis. Vet J 2008; 182:441-5. [PMID: 18818112 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2008] [Revised: 08/08/2008] [Accepted: 08/13/2008] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniosis is a life-threatening disease of medical, social and economic importance in endemic areas. It is an opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients, including human immunodeficiency virus-positive subjects. Dogs are the main reservoir of Leishmania infantum. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of miltefosine and allopurinol for the control of human leishmaniosis using the dog as a model. The study included 28 sick dogs treated with miltefosine (2 mg/kg/day PO) administered concurrently with allopurinol (10 mg/kg/day, PO) for 30 days, and then with allopurinol alone, at the same dosage, for 1 year. Eight dogs (four of which relapsed) received a second cycle of miltefosine within 6 months of the first cycle. Efficacy was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction assay on whole blood samples and lymph node aspirates, collected at baseline and every 3 months for 12 months. Of the total number of animals (28), two showed renal insufficiency and died after the start of therapy with miltefosine. Two other dogs presented some side effects to treatment, such as nausea, vomiting and reduction in white and red blood cell counts, and these animals were excluded from the follow-up. The results showed that the first cycle of therapy with miltefosine and allopurinol induced a drastic and progressive reduction of L. infantum load in lymph node aspirates but the second cycle did not eliminate the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Manna
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Veterinarie, Università di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy.
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42
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Melo F, Amaral M, Oliveira P, Lima W, Andrade M, Michalick M, Raso P, Tafuri W, Tafuri W. Diffuse intralobular liver fibrosis in dogs naturally infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2008; 79:198-204. [PMID: 18689624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the diffuse intralobular fibrosis in dogs naturally infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi. One hundred five infected animals with positive serologic tests for Leishmania were divided into two clinical groups: 69 symptomatic animals and 36 asymptomatic. Special staining with Gomori, Heidenhain, Silver, and Picrosirius Red was applied to characterize fibrilopoesis. The tissue parasite load was measured by immunohistochemistry and associated histomorphometric analyses. Intralobular fibrosis was observed in all dogs, and more collagen deposition was confirmed in the infected animals than in the controls by these histomorphometric studies. There were significant differences among the distinct clinical groups. In fact, symptomatic dogs showed an increased collagen deposition in the liver compared with asymptomatic ones. A peculiar diffuse intralobular fibrosis, where the collagen fibers encircled small groups of hepatocyte(s), was observed in two cases (1.9%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferdinan Melo
- Departamento de Patologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Zhang WW, Peacock CS, Matlashewski G. A genomic-based approach combining in vivo selection in mice to identify a novel virulence gene in Leishmania. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2008; 2:e248. [PMID: 18545684 PMCID: PMC2398785 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0000248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2007] [Accepted: 05/14/2008] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Infection with Leishmania results in a broad spectrum of pathologies where L. infantum and L. donovani cause fatal visceral leishmaniasis and L. major causes destructive cutaneous lesions. The identification and characterization of Leishmania virulence genes may define the genetic basis for these different pathologies. Methods and Findings Comparison of the recently completed L. major and L. infantum genomes revealed a relatively small number of genes that are absent or present as pseudogenes in L. major and potentially encode proteins in L. infantum. To investigate the potential role of genetic differences between species in visceral infection, seven genes initially classified as absent in L. major but present in L. infantum were cloned from the closely related L. donovani genome and introduced into L. major. The transgenic L. major expressing the L. donovani genes were then introduced into BALB/c mice to select for parasites with increased virulence in the spleen to determine whether any of the L. donovani genes increased visceral infection levels. During the course of these experiments, one of the selected genes (LinJ32_V3.1040 (Li1040)) was reclassified as also present in the L. major genome. Interestingly, only the Li1040 gene significantly increased visceral infection in the L. major transfectants. The Li1040 gene encodes a protein containing a putative component of an endosomal protein sorting complex involved with protein transport. Conclusions These observations demonstrate that the levels of expression and sequence variations in genes ubiquitously shared between Leishmania species have the potential to significantly influence virulence and tissue tropism. Parasites of the genus Leishmania cause a variety of human diseases that range from destructive skin lesions caused by L. major to visceral infections of the liver and spleen caused by L. donovani that result in death. The Leishmania genes responsible for these different pathologies are not known. In the present study, we used a comparative genome-based approach to introduce and over-express L. donovani genes in L. major to determine whether this results in increased virulence of L. major in visceral organs of infected mice. Through this approach, a novel gene termed Li1040 was identified that is potentially involved in protein transport and was shown to increase pathogenesis in the visceral organs in mice. The Li1040 gene may therefore represent a Leishmania virulence gene that has the potential to regulate the pathology of infection in the mammalian host. These observations help to define how Leishmania causes fatal infections in humans and therefore provide a parasite-specific target for therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Wei Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Christopher S. Peacock
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
| | - Greg Matlashewski
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Folgueira C, Carrión J, Moreno J, Saugar JM, Cañavate C, Requena JM. Effects of the disruption of the HSP70-II gene on the growth, morphology, and virulence of Leishmania infantum promastigotes. Int Microbiol 2008; 11:81-89. [PMID: 18645958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The 70-kDa heat shock protein (HSP70) is highly conserved among both prokaryotes and eukaryotes and plays essential roles in diverse cellular functions not only under stress but also under normal conditions. In the protozoan Leishmania infantum, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis, HSP70 is encoded by two HSP70 genes. Here, we describe the phenotypic alterations of HSP70-II-deficient (Deltahsp70-II) promastigotes. The absence of HSP70-II caused a major alteration in growth as the promastigotes reached stationary phase. In addition, aberrant forms were frequently observed in Deltahsp70-II mutant cultures. An accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase in cultures of the Deltahsp70-II mutant was determined by flow cytometry. Furthermore, Deltahsp70-II promastigotes showed a limited capacity of multiplication within macrophages, even though attachment to and uptake by macrophages did not differ significantly from the wild-type. Moreover, Deltahsp70-II was highly attenuated in BALB/c mouse experimental infections. In mutants re-expressing HSP70-II, the growth rate was restored, the normal morphology was recovered, and interactions with macrophages increased. However, promastigotes re-expressing HSP70-II did not recover their virulence. Overall, these data highlight the essential role played by HSP70-II expression in Leishmania virulence, pointing to this gene as a promising target for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Folgueira
- Center for Molecular Biology (CSIC-UAM), Autonomous University of Madrid, Cantoblanco, Spain
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Turki-Mannoubi L, Kbaier-Hachemi H, Barhoumi M, Chakroun AS, Guizani I. [A variant of DDRT-PCR using anchored mini-exon primers for identification of differentially expressed sequences in Leishmania infantum]. Arch Inst Pasteur Tunis 2008; 85:29-44. [PMID: 19469414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Leishmania infantum (L.i) is responsible for visceral (VL) or cutaneous (CL) leishmaniasis. Previous studies done in Honduras by differential display reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (DDRT-PCR) failed to demonstrate differences in expression profiles among L. infantum VL and CL parasites. For purpose of comparing expression among L. infantum isolates in Tunisia, a variant of this technique adapted from a commercial kit was developed involving pairs of random and anchored mini-exon primers for isolation and identification of differentially displayed cDNAs. To assess the efficiency of this variant, 34 pairs were applied to 2 consecutive dilutions of cDNAs from promastigotes at end of in vitro exponential growth of 2 visceral (LV50) and cutaneous (DREP14) isolates from Tunisia, thus increasing chance for observing differences among the cDNAs. Profiles were compared and analyzed as regards number and phenotype of bands displayed in 4 types of highly similar amplification profiles among the 2 cDNAs; 26 primer pair combinations generated in total 6.8% differentially displayed bands that had variable intensities or were present/absent, in comparable proportions in the 2 isolates. Analysis further demonstrated differences in amplification efficiency of some primers, emphasizing on qualitative and quantitative impact of relative proximity of the priming sites. Nine present/absent bands were cloned, sequenced and analyzed in silico. Mismatches at priming sites seem to underlie amplification of such bands. Only five products could be referred to annotated gene. Among the genes identified, we list histone H4, largely known to be differentially expressed among L.i stages, and "NTF2-like" for which overexpression in one cDNA was here confirmed. To conclude, the variant developed could be used further in Leishmania expression analysis with appropriate cautions about false positives.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Turki-Mannoubi
- Laboratoire d'Epidémiologie et d'Ecologie Parasitaire/LR00SP04, Programme de recherche en génomique et biotechnologies appliquées aux maladies parasitaires, Institut Pasteur de Thnis, Tunisie
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46
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Abstract
In this case report, an atypical clinical presentation of leishmaniosis in a dog with multiple nodular lesions of the tongue is described. Haematological and biochemical analysis, serological test for Leishmania infantum antibodies and biopsy samples from several nodules of the tongue for histopathological examination were made. The final diagnosis of leishmaniosis was based upon the observation of amastigotes in the bioptic samples. It is recommended to consider leishmaniosis among the list of differentials of mucosal nodular lesions, at least in endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Pinna Parpaglia
- Institute of Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
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47
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Maia C, Rolão N, Nunes M, Gonçalves L, Campino L. Infectivity of five different types of macrophages by Leishmania infantum. Acta Trop 2007; 103:150-5. [PMID: 17626776 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2007.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2007] [Revised: 05/22/2007] [Accepted: 06/01/2007] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Leishmania are intracellular parasites that multiply as the amastigote form in the macrophages of their vertebrate hosts. Since vaccines against leishmaniases are still under development, the control of these diseases relies on prompt diagnosis and chemotherapy in infected humans as well as in dogs, which are the main reservoir of Leishmania infantum, in Mediterranean countries. To establish the macrophage type to be used as an in vitro model for antileishmanial chemotherapeutic studies, we analysed the susceptibility of human peripheral blood derived macrophages, macrophages derived from mouse bone marrow, mouse peritoneal macrophages and macrophages differentiated from cell lines U-937 and DH82 to infection by two L. infantum strains, one obtained from a human leishmanial infection and other from a canine infection. Both strains displayed comparable behaviour in their capacity of infecting the different macrophage types. Human peripheral blood macrophages and DH82 cells were less infectable by both strains. U-937, mouse peritoneal macrophages and mouse bone marrow derived macrophages are the most active cells to phagocytose the parasites. However, U-937 cell line appears to be the most useful as Leishmania infection model providing an unlimited source of homogeneous host cells with reproducibility of the results, is less time consuming, less expensive and tolerate high doses of first line drugs for human and canine visceral leishmaniasis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Maia
- Unidade de Leishmanioses, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, R. da Junqueira, 96, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
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48
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Yao C, Chen Y, Sudan B, Donelson JE, Wilson ME. Leishmania chagasi: homogenous metacyclic promastigotes isolated by buoyant density are highly virulent in a mouse model. Exp Parasitol 2007; 118:129-33. [PMID: 17706646 PMCID: PMC2274777 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2007.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2007] [Revised: 05/08/2007] [Accepted: 06/26/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Homogenous metacyclic promastigotes of Leishmania chagasi were isolated by buoyant density from in vitro heterogeneous cultures and used for biochemical characterization of isoforms of the major surface protease (MSP). Compared to stationary phase promastigotes, metacyclic cells had three times more MSP, produced 3-fold higher parasite loads in a mouse model in vivo, and were more resistant to complement-mediated lysis in vitro. These metacyclic L. chagasi expressed both the virulence-associated 59-kDa, and the constitutively expressed 63-kDa, isoforms of MSP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoqun Yao
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, IA 52242, USA.
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Montoya L, Gállego M, Gavignet B, Piarroux R, Rioux JA, Portús M, Fisa R. Application of microsatellite genotyping to the study of a restricted Leishmania infantum focus: different genotype compositions in isolates from dogs and sand flies. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2007; 76:888-95. [PMID: 17488911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmania infantum polymorphism was studied by DNA microsatellite analysis of 110 L. infantum stocks (94 from dogs, 15 from sand flies, and 1 from a human visceral case) from a rural leishmaniasis-endemic area (Priorat) in northeastern Spain. Three microsatellites of the eight present in three fragments (internal transcribed spacer, Lm4, and Lm2) of L. infantum nuclear DNA are polymorphic inside the focus, resulting in 17 genotypes. Isolates from dogs and sand flies had different allelic compositions and shared only four genotypes. Microsatellite analysis is useful for L. infantum genotyping and epidemiologic tracking. Its application with strains from dogs and vectors in an area endemic for leishmaniasis shows the heterogeneous distribution of L. infantum in hosts living in sympatric conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Montoya
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Lal CS, Kumar A, Kumar S, Pandey K, Kumar N, Bimal S, Sinha PK, Das P. Hypocholesterolemia and increased triglyceride in pediatric visceral leishmaniasis. Clin Chim Acta 2007; 382:151-3. [PMID: 17509550 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2007.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2007] [Revised: 04/04/2007] [Accepted: 04/04/2007] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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