Phlebotomus papatasi sand fly predicted salivary protein diversity and immune response potential based on in silico prediction in Egypt and Jordan populations.

Phlebotomus papatasi sand flies inject their hosts with a myriad of pharmacologically active salivary proteins to assist with blood feeding and to modulate host defenses. In addition, salivary proteins can influence cutaneous leishmaniasis disease outcome, highlighting the potential of the salivary components to be used as a vaccine. Variability of vaccine targets in natural populations influences antigen choice for vaccine development.

Clinicoepidemiologic pattern of cutaneous leishmaniasis and molecular characterization of its causative agent in Hajjah governorate, northwest of Yemen.

The clinicoepidemiologic profile of 143 cases (93 males and 50 females) with cutaneous leishmaniasis from 18 villages of Hajjah governorate, Yemen was studied. Dry-type lesions were seen in 98.6% and wet-type lesions in 1.

Phlebotomus papatasi SP15: mRNA expression variability and amino acid sequence polymorphisms of field populations.

Background: The Phlebotomus papatasi salivary protein PpSP15 was shown to protect mice against Leishmania major, suggesting that incorporation of salivary molecules in multi-component vaccines may be a viable strategy for anti-Leishmania vaccines.

Methods: Here, we investigated PpSP15 predicted amino acid sequence variability and mRNA profile of P. papatasi field populations from the Middle East.

Profiling of human acquired immunity against the salivary proteins of Phlebotomus papatasi reveals clusters of differential immunoreactivity.

Phlebotomus papatasi sand flies are among the primary vectors of Leishmania major parasites from Morocco to the Indian subcontinent and from southern Europe to central and eastern Africa. Antibody-based immunity to sand fly salivary gland proteins in human populations remains a complex contextual problem that is not yet fully understood. We profiled the immunoreactivities of plasma antibodies to sand fly salivary gland sonicates (SGSs) from 229 human blood donors residing in different regions of sand fly endemicity throughout Jordan and Egypt as well as 69 US military personnel, who were differentially exposed to P.

Sticky bottle traps: a simple and effective method for collecting adult phlebotomine sand flies from rodent burrows in a Leishmania-endemic region of Egypt.

We describe a simple, economic, and effective method for constructing sticky bottle traps that can be used to capture adult sand flies from rodent burrows. Although sand fly surveillance activities often employ light- or CO2-baited traps, sticky papers secured to a post or placed on the ground can also be used. However, in arid environments, sand and other debris often collect on the sticky surface, reducing trap effectiveness, capacity, and a means for rapid discrimination and enumeration of adult specimens.

Expression plasticity of Phlebotomus papatasi salivary gland genes in distinct ecotopes through the sand fly season.

Background: Sand fly saliva can drive the outcome of Leishmania infection in animal models, and salivary components have been postulated as vaccine candidates against leishmaniasis. In the sand fly Phlebotomus papatasi, natural sugar-sources modulate the activity of proteins involved in meal digestion, and possibly influence vectorial capacity. However, only a handful of studies have assessed the variability of salivary components in sand flies, focusing on the effects of environmental factors in natural habitats.

Effects of ivermectin on blood-feeding Phlebotomus papatasi, and the promastigote stage of Leishmania major.

Ivermectin (IVM) is a chemically modified macrocyclic lactone of Streptomyces avermitilis that acts as a potent neurotoxin against many nematodes and arthropods. Little is known of IVM's effect against either blood-feeding Phlebotomus sand flies, or the infective promastigote stage of Leishmania transmitted by these flies. We injected hamsters subcutaneously with two standard IVM treatments (200 and 400 μg/kg body weight) and allowed cohorts of Leishmania major-infected Phlebotomus papatasi to blood-feed on these animals at various posttreatment time points (4 h, 1, 2, 6, and 10 days).