Lutzomyia longipalpis peritrophic matrix: formation, structure, and chemical composition.

Sandflies are vectors of several pathogens, constituting serious health problems. Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) is the main vector of Leishmania chagasi, agent of visceral leishmaniasis. They synthesize a thick bag-like structure that surrounds the bloodmeal, named peritrophic matrix (PM).

Trypanocidal and leishmanicidal properties of substitution-containing chalcones.

Ten chalcones were synthesized and tested as potential leishmanicidal and trypanocidal agents. All tested compounds caused concentration-dependent inhibition of the in vitro growth of Leishmania braziliensis and Trypanosoma cruzi with no significant toxic effect towards host macrophages. Our results show that the positions of the substituents seem to be critical for their antiprotozoal activities.

Interaction of Trypanosoma rangeli Tejera, 1920 with different cell lines in vitro.

Intracellular multiplication of Trypanosoma rangeli was evaluated in vitro using experimental infection of Vero cells, murine macrophages, and promonocytes with T. rangeli Choachi, Macias, and SC-58 clone B1 strains. Our results revealed a low infectivity of all T.

Differential susceptibility of triatomines of the genus Rhodnius to Trypanosoma rangeli strains from different geographical origins.

The susceptibility of four Rhodnius species to different Trypanosoma rangeli strains was evaluated using both intracoelomic inoculation and oral infection. Rhodnius prolixus, Rhodnius domesticus, Rhodnius neglectus and Rhodnius nasutus were infected with Trypanosoma rangeli Macias (Venezuela), Choachi (Colombia) and SC-58 (Brazil) strains, revealing distinct haemolymph and salivary glands infection rates. The obtained infection rates were revealed to be dependent on the method of infection and the triatomine species.

Characterization of Leishmania sp. strains isolated from autochthonous cases of human cutaneous leishmaniasis in Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil.

Four Leishmania sp. samples were isolated from autochthonous human cases of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) in Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil. These strains were characterized using indirect immunofluorescence with a panel of Leishmania-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), and by PCR amplification and hybridization assay of the mini-exon gene with group specific probes.