What's new for 'Trypanosomatids' in PubMed

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Search kinetoplastids OR kinetoplastid OR Kinetoplastida OR "trypanosoma brucei" OR leishmania OR brucei OR leishmaniasis OR "African trypanosomiasis"
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PubMed Results

Items 1 - 10 of 17

1.	Parasitol Res. 2011 Mar 26. [Epub ahead of print] Effect of A2 gene on infectivity of the nonpathogenic parasite Leishmania tarentolae. Mizbani A, Taslimi Y, Zahedifard F, Taheri T, Rafati S. Molecular Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran. Abstract Several species of protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania are pathogenic to mammals and cause a wide spectrum of pathologies in human. However, the genus includes some species which infect reptiles. Leishmania tarentolae is a lizard pathogen absolutely nonpathogenic to mammals. Recent studies have shown that among some major virulence factors, A2 is absent in this species. First identified as an amastigote-specific gene in Leishmania donovani, A2 has been proved to play a major role in parasite virulence and visceralization capability. In this study, we have transfected A2 episomally into L. tarentolae and evaluated its effect on infectivity and survival of the parasites, in vitro and in vivo. During infection of in vitro-cultured intraperitoneal macrophages of BALB/c mice, A2-expressing L. tarentolae parasites demonstrated significantly higher level of infectivity in days 3 and 4 post-infection in comparison with the wild-type strain as control. Furthermore, in vivo infection showed that A2 has significantly increased the ability of L. tarentolae to survive in the liver of BALB/c mice. Altogether, our results show that A2 is functional in L. tarentolae, although through an unknown mechanism, and loss of A2 has been one of the factors partly contributing to the loss of virulence of L. tarentolae.
	PMID: 21442256 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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2.	J Biomol Screen. 2011 Mar 25. [Epub ahead of print] A High-Throughput Turbidometric Assay for Screening Inhibitors of Leishmania major Protein Disulfide Isomerase. Ben Khalaf N, Demuylder G, Ratnam J, Kean-Hooi Ang K, Arkin M, McKerrow J, Chenik M. Abstract The use of a high-throughput technique to perform a pilot screen for Leishmania major protein disulfide isomerase (LmPDI) inhibitors identification is reported. In eukaryotic cells, protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) plays a crucial role in protein folding by catalyzing the rearrangement of disulfide bonds in substrate proteins following their synthesis. LmPDI displays similar domain structure organization and functional properties to other PDI family members and is involved in Leishmania virulence. The authors used a method based on the enzyme-catalyzed reduction of insulin in the presence of dithiothreitol. The screen of a small library of 1920 compounds was performed in a 384-well format and led to the identification of 27 compounds with inhibitory activity against LmPDI. The authors further tested the cytotoxicity of these compounds using Jurkat cells as well as their effect on Leishmania donovani amastigotes using high-content analysis. Results show hexachlorophene and a mixture of theaflavin monogallates inhibit Leishmania multiplication in infected macrophages derived from THP-1 cells, although the inhibitory effect on LmPDI enzymatic activity does not necessarily correlate with the antileishmanial activity.
	PMID: 21441416 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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3.	Protein Expr Purif. 2011 Mar 24. [Epub ahead of print] Expression of human c-reactive protein in different systems and its purification from Leishmania tarentolae. Dortay H, Schmöckel SM, Fettke J, Mueller-Roeber B. University of Potsdam, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 24-25, Haus 20, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany. Abstract With its homo-pentameric structure and calcium-dependent specificity for phosphocholine (PCh), human c-reactive protein (CRP) is produced by the liver and secreted in elevated quantities in response to inflammation. CRP is widely accepted as a cardiac marker e.g. in point-of-care diagnostics, however, its heterologous expression has proven difficult. Here, we demonstrate the expression of CRP in different Escherichia coli strains as well as by in vitro transcription/translation. Although expression in these systems was straightforward, most of the protein that accumulated was insoluble. We therefore expanded our study to include the expression of CRP in two eukaryotic hosts, namely the yeast Kluyveromyceslactis and the protozoon Leishmaniatarentolae. Both expression systems are optimized for secretion of recombinant proteins and here allowed successful expression of soluble CRP. We also demonstrate the purification of recombinant CRP from Leishmania growth medium; the purification of protein expressed from K. lactis was not successful. Functional and intact CRP pentamer is known to interact with PCh in Ca(2+)-dependent manner. In this report we verify the binding specificity of recombinant CRP from L.tarentolae (2μg/mL culture medium) for PCh. Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Inc.
	PMID: 21440634 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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4.	Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2011 Feb 23. [Epub ahead of print] Immunological changes in canine peripheral blood leukocytes triggered by immunization with first or second generation vaccines against canine visceral leishmaniasis. Araújo MS, de Andrade RA, Sathler-Avelar R, Magalhães CP, Carvalho AT, Andrade MC, Campolina SS, Mello MN, Vianna LR, Mayrink W, Reis AB, Malaquias LC, Rocha LM, Martins-Filho OA. Laboratório de Biomarcadores de Diagnóstico e Monitoração, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715 Barro Preto, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 30190-002, Brazil; Laboratório de Imunologia, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715 Barro Preto, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 30190-002, Brazil. Abstract In this study, we summarized the major phenotypic/functional aspects of circulating leukocytes following canine immunization with Leishvaccine and Leishmune(®). Our findings showed that Leishvaccine triggered early changes in the innate immunity (neutrophils and eosinophils) with late alterations on monocytes. Conversely, Leishmune(®) induced early phenotypic changes in both, neutrophils and monocytes. Moreover, Leishvaccine triggered mixed activation-related phenotypic changes on T-cells (CD4(+) and CD8(+)) and B-lymphocytes, whereas Leishmune(®) promoted a selective response, mainly associated with CD8(+) T-cell activation. Mixed cytokine profile (IFN-γ/IL-4) was observed in Leishvaccine immunized dogs whereas a selective pro-inflammatory pattern (IFN-γ/NO) was induced by Leishmune(®) vaccination. The distinct immunological profile triggered by Leishvaccine and Leishmune(®) may be a direct consequence of the distinct biochemical composition of these immunobiological, i.e. complex versus purified Leishmania antigen along with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) versus saponin adjuvant. Both immunobiologicals are able to activate phagocytes and CD8(+) T-cells and therefore could be considered as a putative vaccines against canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
	PMID: 21439654 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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5.	Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2011 Mar 23. [Epub ahead of print] Epidemiological and geographical aspects of leishmaniasis in Tigray, northern Ethiopia: a retrospective analysis of medical records, 2005-2008. Morrone A, Pitidis A, Pajno MC, Dassoni F, Latini O, Barnabas GA, Padovese V. National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (NIHMP), via di San Gallicano 25/A, 00153 Rome, Italy. Abstract Leishmaniasis is one of the most neglected tropical diseases and epidemic outbreaks often occur worldwide. This paper reports some epidemiological features of the disease in Tigray, northern Ethiopia, with the aim of studying the disease distribution and the environmental factors that may have influenced it. Medical records from patients with Leishmania attending the Italian Dermatological Centre of Mekele in the period 2005-2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Age and gender distribution, clinical types, occupation, co-morbidity, urban/rural origin, altitude and rainfall were investigated. The result was 471 patients affected and the prevalent clinical form was cutaneous leishmaniasis (86%). Five main risk areas were identified in the Tigray highlands and only isolated cases were reported at altitudes below 1700m. The variables related to a higher risk of catching leishmaniasis were male gender, age over-14, poor education, outdoor activities and living at high altitudes. Climatic and environmental changes occurring in this region and land degradation are discussed as factors influencing leishmaniasis distribution. Further research including field missions and geomapping is needed to quantify the actual disease burden in the region. Copyright © 2011 Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
	PMID: 21439603 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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6.	Infect Genet Evol. 2011 Mar 22. [Epub ahead of print] Leishmania AFLP: Paving the Way towards Improved Molecular Assays and Markers of Diversity. Odiwuor S, Vuylsteke M, De Doncker S, Maes I, Mbuchi M, Dujardin JC, Van der Auwera G. Parasitology Department, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Center for Clinical Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. Abstract Diversity, phylogenetic, and population genetic studies of the genus Leishmania, causative agent of leishmaniasis, nowadays generally involves multilocus microsatellite and multilocus sequence typing. Even though these are well established and useful applications, amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) can provide complementary information. In addition, as the technique essentially probes the entire genome at random, without prior sequence knowledge, it is ideally suited as a screening tool for molecular markers linked with biological and clinical traits. We developed an AFLP protocol adapted to the Leishmania genome, tested its repeatability, and validated it on a panel of samples from the Leishmania donovani complex previously analyzed by multiple molecular tests. The technique proved highly reproducible, and showed that genetic relationships between L. donovani strains generally reflect geographic distance. Four main groups were identified: L. infantum, African L. donovani, Indian L. donovani, and a mixed group consisting of L. donovani from India and Africa. Results were highly congruent with previous analyses on essentially the same sample set, indicating that the developed assay produces trustworthy data. This opens possibilities for application in studies of speciation and population dynamics. Moreover, it allows random screening of the entire Leishmania genome for linkage with biological and clinical parasite properties, such as fitness, drug resistance, and disease profile. Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier B.V.
	PMID: 21439405 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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7.	Rev Bras Parasitol Vet. 2011 Jan-Mar;20(1):85-7. First record of Trypanosoma sp. (Protozoa: Kinetoplastida) in tuvira (Gymnotus aff. inaequilabiatus) in the Pantanal wetland, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. Pádua SB, Ishikawa MM, Satake F, Jerônimo GT, Pilarski F. Doutorado em Parasitologia Veterinária, Laboratório de Piscicultura,Embrapa Agropecuária Oeste, BR 163, Km 253,6, CP 661,CEP 79804-970, Dourados - MS, Brazil. marcia@cpao.embrapa.br. Abstract The blood infection by Trypanosoma sp. in tuvira (Gymnotus aff. inaequilabiatus) from the Pantanal wetland was reported in this study. Ten fish from the Paraguay River in the Pantanal were evaluated for the presence of hemoflagellates. Trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma sp. were observed in blood smears from three fish (30% prevalence) and some forms were seen to be undergoing division. Using the diagnostic methods of fresh examination and blood centrifugation in hematocrit capillary tubes, the prevalence rate was 80%. This is the first report of Trypanosoma sp. in tuvira in Brazil.
	PMID: 21439241 [PubMed - in process]
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8.	Rev Bras Parasitol Vet. 2011 Jan-Mar;20(1):64-6. Active surveillance of canine visceral leishmaniasis and american trypanossomiasis in rural dogs from non endemic area. Tome RO, Gaio FC, Generoso D, Menozzi BD, Langoni H. Rua Santa Catarina, 17, Vila Progresso, CEP 13.202-150, Jundiaí - SP, Brazil. olimpio_vet@yahoo.com.br. Abstract The canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) and american trypanosomiasis are important zoonoses in public healthand dogs are the main domestic reservoir of the parasite for humans. The goal of this study was to estimate theprevalence of circulating antibodies anti-Trypanosoma cruzi and anti-Leishmania sp. in sera of dogs from the rural areaof Botucatu, SP, Brazil. During the annual vaccination campaign against canine rabies in rural area, 689 blood sampleswere taken and processed by indirect immunofluorescent antibody test. The serological tests revealed the absence ofantibodies anti-Leishmania spp., but anti-T. cruzi antibodies were detected in 3 (0.4%) dogs.
	PMID: 21439235 [PubMed - in process]
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9.	Rev Bras Parasitol Vet. 2011 Jan-Mar;20(1):42-8. A novel A2 allele found in Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi. Oliveira TM, Vasconcelos EJ, Nakaghi AC, Defina TP, Jusi MM, Baldani CD, Cruz AK, Machado RZ. Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias,Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Via de Acesso Prof. Dr. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, CEP 14884-900, Jaboticabal - SP, Brazil. zacarias@fcav.unesp.br. Abstract Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a widely spread zoonotic disease. In Brazil the disease is caused by Leishmania (Leishmania)infantum chagasi. Peridomestic sandflies acquire the etiological agent by feeding on blood of infected reservoir animals, suchas dogs or wildlife. The disease is endemic in Brazil and epidemic foci have been reported in densely populated cities all overthe country. Many clinical features of Leishmania infection are related to the host-parasite relationship, and many candidatevirulence factors in parasites that cause VL have been studied such as A2 genes. The A2 gene was first isolated in 1994 and thenin 2005 three new alleles were described in Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum. In the present study we amplified by polymerasechain reaction (PCR) and sequenced the A2 gene from the genome of a clonal population of L. (L.) infantum chagasi VLparasites. The L. (L.) infantum chagasi A2 gene was amplified, cloned, and sequenced in. The amplified fragment showedapproximately 90% similarity with another A2 allele amplified in Leishmania (Leishmania) donovani and in L. (L.) infantumdescribed in literature. However, nucleotide translation shows differences in protein amino acid sequence, which may beessential to determine the variability of A2 genes in the species of the L. (L.) donovani complex and represents an additional toolto help understanding the role this gene family may have in establishing virulence and immunity in visceral leishmaniasis. Thisknowledge is important for the development of more accurate diagnostic tests and effective tools for disease control.
	PMID: 21439231 [PubMed - in process]
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10.	Rev Bras Parasitol Vet. 2011 Jan-Mar;20(1):36-41. The use of conjunctival swab samples for PCR screening for visceral leishmaniasis in vaccinated dogs. Leite RS, Mendes VC, Ferreira AL, Andrade AS. Laboratório de Radiobiologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear - CDTN, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Campus da UFMG,CEP 31270-901, Belo Horizonte - MG, Brazil. rleite2005@gmail.com. Abstract The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been shown to provide a rapid and sensitive technique for Leishmania detection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the technique of noninvasive conjunctival swabs (CS) as a sampling method for molecular screening for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in a group of 42 police dogs, all of them vaccinated against VL, and to compare the results with those obtained by serological tests. The serological assays were performed independently by three laboratories. Laboratories 1 and 2 were private laboratories and laboratory 3 was the National Reference Laboratory. The first serological screening performed by laboratory 1 showed 15 reactive dogs and 4 indeterminate. Laboratory 2 confirmed only 3 reactive dogs and 2 indeterminate. Laboratory 3 confirmed 7 reactive dogs and 3 indeterminate. The PCR diagnosis using the CS procedure was performed on all 42 animals and was able to detect Leishmania DNA in 17 dogs. The PCR assay confirmed all the cases that were simultaneously reactive in the serological tests by two laboratories. The results showed that the CS technique was a sensitive and practical method for sample collection, thus allowing reliable diagnostic tests through PCR.
	PMID: 21439230 [PubMed - in process]
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