Evidence of a conserved mammalian immunosuppression mechanism in upon infection with .

Introduction: Sand flies (Diptera: Phlebotominae) belonging to the genus transmit parasites. To understand the complex interaction between the vector and the parasite, we have been investigating the sand fly immune responses during the infection. Our previous studies showed that genes involved in the IMD, Toll, and Jak-STAT immunity pathways are regulated upon and bacterial challenges.

RNAi-mediated gene silencing of defensins favors infection.

Production of different antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is one of the insect's prominent defense strategies, regulated mainly by Toll and immune deficiency (IMD) humoral pathways. Here we focused mainly on two AMPs of , vector of parasites, their association with the relish transcription factor and the effective participation on infection. We further characterized the role of previously described gut-specific defensin (PpDef1) and identified the second defensin (PpDef2) expressed in various sand fly tissues.

Characterisation of the antiviral RNA interference response to Toscana virus in sand fly cells.

Toscana virus (TOSV) (Bunyavirales, Phenuiviridae, Phlebovirus, Toscana phlebovirus) and other related human pathogenic arboviruses are transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies. TOSV has been reported in nations bordering the Mediterranean Sea among other regions. Infection can result in febrile illness as well as meningitis and encephalitis.

Phenotypical Differences between () PH8 and LV79 Strains May Impact Survival in Mammal Host and in Phlebotomine Sand Flies.

We previously showed that () promastigotes and amastigotes of the PH8 strain generated larger lesions in mice than LV79, and that lesion-derived amastigotes from the two strains differ in their proteomes. We recently reported that PH8 promastigotes are more phagocytized by macrophages. Promastigotes' membrane-enriched proteomes showed several differences, and samples of each strain clustered based on proteomes.

First molecular detection of Spiroplasma spp. in ticks from horses in Brazil.

The class Mollicutes comprises microorganisms that lack a cell wall, highly dependent on their host to survive. Within Mollicutes, the genus Spiroplasma comprises motile helical microorganisms associated with various insects and other arthropods. This study aimed to detect and characterize Mollicutes microorganisms in ticks of different species of veterinary importance, using molecular techniques.

Antimicrobial Peptides: Differential Expression during Development and Potential Involvement in Vector Interaction with Microbiota and .

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are produced to control bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and other infectious agents. Sand fly larvae develop and feed on a microbe-rich substrate, and the hematophagous females are exposed to additional pathogens. We focused on understanding the role of the AMPs attacin (Att), cecropin (Cec), and four defensins (Def1, Def2, Def3, and Def4) in the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in the Americas.

The gene expression of Leishmania infantum chagasi inside Lutzomyia longipalpis, the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil.

Leishmania infantum chagasi is the causative agent and Lutzomyia longipalpis is the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in the Americas. We investigated the expression of Leishmania genes within L. longipalpis after artificial infection.

Colonization and genetic diversification processes of Leishmania infantum in the Americas.

Leishmania infantum causes visceral leishmaniasis, a deadly vector-borne disease introduced to the Americas during the colonial era. This non-native trypanosomatid parasite has since established widespread transmission cycles using alternative vectors, and human infection has become a significant concern to public health, especially in Brazil. A multi-kilobase deletion was recently detected in Brazilian L.

Rickettsial pathogens circulating in urban districts of Rio de Janeiro, without report of human Brazilian Spotted Fever.

Spotted fever group rickettsioses are emerging diseases. In some of these diseases, domestic dogs act as sentinels. Canine serological studies have demonstrated that rickettsial dispersion is concentrated in rural areas, seroprevalence being higher where human rickettsioses are endemic.

Spotted fever group rickettsial infection in dogs and their ticks from domestic-wildlife interface areas in southeastern Brazil.

Rickettsia rickettsii is the causative agent of Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), for which humans and dogs are both susceptible. Dogs are sentinels in serological surveys, however, canine disease is rarely reported. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate natural infection by spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia spp.

Low vector competence in sylvatic mosquitoes limits Zika virus to initiate an enzootic cycle in South America.

Zika virus (ZIKV) has spread in the Americas since 2015 and the potential establishment of a sylvatic transmission cycle in the continent has been hypothesized. We evaluated vector competence of five sylvatic Neotropical mosquito species to two ZIKV isolates. Distinct batches of Haemagogus leucoceleanus, Sabethes albiprivus, Sabethes identicus, Aedes terrens and Aedes scapularis females were respectively orally challenged and inoculated intrathoracically with ZIKV.

Eustrongylides sp. (Nematoda, Dioctophymatoidea) parasitizing Hoplias malabaricus (Actinopterygii: Erythrinidae) collected from the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Hoplias malabaricus (Characiformes, Erythrinidae), trahira, is a neotropical freshwater fish of economic and public health significance. A total of 45 specimens of H. malabaricus commercialized in the municipality of Magé, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were acquired between April 2016 and April 2018 to investigate the presence of nematode larvae.

TGF-β Has a Role in Survival in the Vector.

Despite the increasing number of studies concerning insect immunity, immune responses in the presence of infection has not been widely investigated. The few available studies analyzed the role of the Toll and IMD pathways involved in response against and microbial infections. Nevertheless, effector molecules responsible for controlling sand fly infections have not been identified.

Wolbachia introduction into Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) cell lines and its effects on immune-related gene expression and interaction with Leishmania infantum.

Background: The leishmaniases are important neglected diseases caused by Leishmania spp. which are transmitted by sand flies, Lutzomyia longipalpis being the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in the Americas. The methodologies for leishmaniasis control are not efficient, causing 1.

Callitetrarhynchus gracilis (Rudolphi, 1819) Pintner, 1931 (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha) parasitizing the musculature of Sardinella brasiliensis (Steindachner, 1879) (Actinopterygii) off the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Cestodes of the order Trypanorhyncha can frequently be found infecting the muscles of several marine fish species, and lead to a repugnant aspect of the fish and rejection by consumers. The Brazilian sardinella, Sardinella brasiliensis, occurs from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean to northern Uruguay. In southeastern Brazil, fishing for the species is very intensive since it generates significant revenue as one of the most commonly consumed fish and an important element of the canned fish industry.

Leishmania, microbiota and sand fly immunity.

In this review, we explore the state-of-the-art of sand fly relationships with microbiota, viruses and Leishmania, with particular emphasis on the vector immune responses. Insect-borne diseases are a major public health problem in the world. Phlebotomine sand flies are proven vectors of several aetiological agents including viruses, bacteria and the trypanosomatid Leishmania, which are responsible for diseases such as viral encephalitis, bartonellosis and leishmaniasis, respectively.

Identification of Secreted Proteins Involved in Nonspecific dsRNA-Mediated Lutzomyia longipalpis LL5 Cell Antiviral Response.

Hematophagous insects transmit infectious diseases. Sand flies are vectors of leishmaniasis, but can also transmit viruses. We have been studying immune responses of , the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in the Americas.

Zika virus can be venereally transmitted between Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

Background: Alternative transmission routes have been described for Zika virus (ZIKV). Here, we assessed for the first time the venereal transmission of ZIKV between Aedes aegypti under laboratory conditions.

Results: Orally-infected mosquito females were able to transmit the virus to males venereally, and males inoculated intrathoracically were capable of infecting females during mating.

Alternative splicing originates different domain structure organization of Lutzomyia longipalpis chitinases.

BACKGROUND The insect chitinase gene family is composed by more than 10 paralogs, which can codify proteins with different domain structures. In Lutzomyia longipalpis, the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil, a chitinase cDNA from adult female insects was previously characterized. The predicted protein contains one catalytic domain and one chitin-binding domain (CBD).

Patterns of Genome-Wide Variation in Glossina fuscipes fuscipes Tsetse Flies from Uganda.

The tsetse fly Glossina fuscipes fuscipes (Gff) is the insect vector of the two forms of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) that exist in Uganda. Understanding Gff population dynamics, and the underlying genetics of epidemiologically relevant phenotypes is key to reducing disease transmission. Using ddRAD sequence technology, complemented with whole-genome sequencing, we developed a panel of ∼73,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) distributed across the Gff genome that can be used for population genomics and to perform genome-wide-association studies.

The sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis LL5 embryonic cell line has active Toll and Imd pathways and shows immune responses to bacteria, yeast and Leishmania.

Background: Lutzomyia longipalpis is the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in Latin America. Sandfly immune responses are poorly understood. In previous work we showed that these vector insects respond to bacterial infections by modulating a defensin gene expression and activate the Imd pathway in response to Leishmania infection.

The flagellar protein FLAG1/SMP1 is a candidate for Leishmania-sand fly interaction.

Leishmaniasis is a serious problem that affects mostly poor countries. Various species of Leishmania are the agents of the disease, which take different clinical manifestations. The parasite is transmitted by sandflies, predominantly from the Phlebotomus genus in the Old World and Lutzomyia in the New World.

Analysis of multiple tsetse fly populations in Uganda reveals limited diversity and species-specific gut microbiota.

The invertebrate microbiome contributes to multiple aspects of host physiology, including nutrient supplementation and immune maturation processes. We identified and compared gut microbial abundance and diversity in natural tsetse flies from Uganda using five genetically distinct populations of Glossina fuscipes fuscipes and multiple tsetse species (Glossina morsitans morsitans, G. f.