Leishmania parasites cause a broad spectrum of clinical disease. Here we report the sequencing of the genomes of two species of Leishmania: Leishmania infantum and Leishmania braziliensis. The comparison of these sequences with the published genome of Leishmania major reveals marked conservation of synteny and identifies only approximately 200 genes with a differential distribution between the three species. L. braziliensis, contrary to Leishmania species examined so far, possesses components of a putative RNA-mediated interference pathway, telomere-associated transposable elements and spliced leader-associated SLACS retrotransposons. We show that pseudogene formation and gene loss are the principal forces shaping the different genomes. Genes that are differentially distributed between the species encode proteins implicated in host-pathogen interactions and parasite survival in the macrophage.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ng2053 | DOI Listing |
Molecules
January 2025
Computational Biology and Chemistry Research Group, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Arequipa 04000, Peru.
Leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease caused by species, presents serious public health challenges due to limited treatment options, toxicity, high costs, and drug resistance. In this study, the in vitro potential of malvidin and echioidinin is examined as antileishmanial agents against , , and , comparing their effects to amphotericin B (AmpB), a standard drug. Malvidin demonstrated greater potency than echioidinin across all parasite stages and species.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnimals (Basel)
January 2025
Laboratory of Clinical Research on Dermatozoonoses in Domestic Animals, Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Av. Brasil, 4365, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil.
Zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis is caused by () and dogs are the main domestic reservoir. This study compared the performance of parasitological tests using semi-automatic needle puncture (SANP) for collecting popliteal lymph node samples with samples collected from the same lymph node by fine needle aspiration puncture (FNAP) and by necropsy for the diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). Popliteal lymph node samples were collected from 30 CVL-seropositive dogs from an endemic region in Brazil.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS One
January 2025
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Laboratory of Protozoology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
In Brazil, Visceral Leishmaniases is caused by Leishmania infantum, and domestic dogs are the main reservoirs in its urban transmission cycle. As an alternative to euthanizing dogs, miltefosine has been used to treat canine visceral leishmaniasis since 2016. In this study, we have assessed the efficacy of miltefosine for treating canine visceral leishmaniasis in a new endemic area through follow-up of naturally infected dogs was evaluated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Immunol
January 2025
Centre of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
Understanding the development and maintenance of immunological memory is important for efforts to eliminate parasitic diseases like leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis encompasses a range of pathologies, resulting from infection with protozoan parasites belonging to the subgenera and of the genus A striking feature of these infections is that natural or drug-mediated cure of infection generally confers life-long protection against disease. The generation of protective T cell responses are necessary to control infections.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCureus
December 2024
Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, PRT.
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare clinical entity characterized by fever, constitutional symptoms, and hepatosplenomegaly associated with the presence of hemophagocytosis in the bone marrow and other organs. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe zoonotic disease hypoendemic in Portugal, particularly in the Alto Douro region. We report the case of a 21-year-old female patient with a recent diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, stage C3, in the context of severe pneumonia, who presented to the emergency department with fever, erythematous rash on the upper limbs and trunk, choluria and jaundice, one week after starting antiretroviral therapy (ART).
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