Use of plasmids for expression of proteins from the genus Leishmania in Escherichia coli: current state and perspectives.

Leishmaniosis is caused by the protozoa of the genus Leishmania with a wide spectrum of clinical and epidemiological manifestations which are characterized into four clinical groups: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, diffuse cutaneous, and visceral. American visceral leishmaniosis (AVL) or visceral leishmaniosis (VL) has been known as the most severe form of the disease. However, despite the growing number of people exposed to the infection risk and the great effort done by the scientific community worldwide to significantly increase the knowledge about these diseases, there is no vaccine capable of preventing VL in humans.

Optimization of the 503 antigen induction strategy of Leishmania infantum chagasi expressed in Escherichia coli M15.

Leishmaniosis is a complex of diseases that can be fatal, if not given proper attention. Despite its relevance in the public health system, there is no vaccine capable of preventing the disease in humans so far and its treatment is expensive and aggressive to human health. The present study aims to optimize the induction parameters of the 503 Leishmania i.

Recovery and purification of recombinant 503 antigen of Leishmania infantum chagasi using expanded bed adsorption chromatography.

Visceral leishmaniasis, a disease caused by Leishmania infantum chagasi, represents a major public health problem in many areas of the world. However, there is currently no vaccine for human use. The aim of this work was to purify the 503 antigen of Leishmania i.

Feeding preferences of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae), the sand fly vector, for Leishmania infantum (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae).

Leishmania infantum, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Brazil, is spread mostly by the bite of the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva). We trapped sand flies in endemic neighborhoods near Natal, Brazil, where cases of human and dog VL were documented. Amplification of species-specific cytochrome b (Cyt b) genes by polymerase chain reaction revealed that sand flies from rural and periurban areas harbored blood from different sources.

Association of pro-inflammatory cytokines and iron regulatory protein 2 (IRP2) with Leishmania burden in canine visceral leishmaniasis.

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.

Influence of culture medium on the production of eif antigen from Leishmania chagasi in recombinant Escherichia coli.

With the advent of recombinant DNA technology, recombinant protein expression has become an important tool in the study of the structure, function and identification of new proteins, especially those with therapeutic functions. Escherichia coli has been the predominant prokaryote used in genetic engineering studies due to the abundance of information about its metabolism. Despite significant advances in molecular biology and immunology of infections, there are as yet no prophylactic drugs capable of preventing visceral leishmaniasis.

Leishmania chagasi T-cell antigens identified through a double library screen.

Control of human visceral leishmaniasis in regions where it is endemic is hampered in part by limited accessibility to medical care and emerging drug resistance. There is no available protective vaccine. Leishmania spp.

An emerging peri-urban pattern of infection with Leishmania chagasi, the protozoan causing visceral leishmaniasis in northeast Brazil.

Peri-urban visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by Leishmania chagasi is emerging in a new epidemiologic pattern in Brazilian cities. We studied peri-urban VL in endemic neighborhoods surrounding Natal, Brazil, identified through hospitalized individuals with VL. Clinical and environmental information obtained for 1106 members of 216 families living in endemic neighborhoods enabled us to identify 4 groups: VL: individuals with current or prior symptomatic visceral leishmaniasis (n = 135); DTH+: individuals with positive delayed-type hypersensitivity response with no history of VL (n = 390); Ab +: individuals with negative DTH response and seropositive (n = 21); DTH -: individuals with negative DTH and seronegative (n = 560).

The sensitivity and specificity of Leishmania chagasi recombinant K39 antigen in the diagnosis of American visceral leishmaniasis and in differentiating active from subclinical infection.

The sensitivity and specificity of a Leishmania chagasi recombinant K39 (rK39)-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) was assessed in Natal, Brazil. Anti-rK39 antibodies were detected in 93.3% of patients with parasitologically confirmed VL (n = 120) and in 33 others with clinically diagnosed disease.