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peridomiciliary breeding sites of phlebotomine sand flies (diptera: psychodidae) in an endemic area of american cutaneous leishmaniasis in southeastern brazil.the occurrence of american cutaneous leishmaniasis (acl) in areas modified by humans indicates that phlebotomine sand fly vectors breed close to human habitations. potential peridomiciliary breeding sites of phlebotomines were sampled in an area of transmission of leishmania (viannia) braziliensis in southeastern brazil. three concentric circles rounding houses and domestic animal shelters, with radii of 20, 40, and 60 m, defined the area to be monitored using adult emergence traps. of the 67 ph ...201223091196
participation of heparin binding proteins from the surface of leishmania (viannia) braziliensis promastigotes in the adhesion of parasites to lutzomyia longipalpis cells (lulo) in vitro.leishmania (v.) braziliensis is a causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in brazil. during the parasite life cycle, the promastigotes adhere to the gut of sandflies, to avoid being eliminated with the dejection. the lulo cell line, derived from lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae), is a suitable in vitro study model to understand the features of parasite adhesion. here, we analyze the role of glycosaminoglycans (gags) from lulo cells and proteins from the parasites in this event.201222805335
information system and geographic information system tools in the data analyses of the control program for visceral leishmaniases from 2006 to 2010 in the sanitary district of venda nova, belo horizonte, minas gerais, brazil.the aim of this paper is to report a brief history of control actions for visceral leishmaniasis (vl) from 2006 to 2010 in the sanitary district (ds) of venda nova, belo horizonte, minas gerais, brazil, focusing on the use of information systems and geographic information system (gis) tools. the analyses showed that the use of an automated database allied with geoprocessing tools may favor control measures of vl, especially with regard to the evaluation of control actions carried out. descriptiv ...201222518168
distribution and abundance of phlebotominae, vectors of leishmaniasis, in argentina: spatial and temporal analysis at different scales.the spatial-temporal analysis of the abundance of insects, vectors of tegumentary leishmaniasis (tl) and visceral leishmaniasis (vl), was performed in argentina using spatial-temporal increasing scales. in the microscale (microfocal), the effect of the primary vegetation-crop interface in vector abundance was observed, and also how the shelters, food sources, and other environmental characteristics contribute to habitat microheterogeneity and so to a microheterogeneous vector distribution. in th ...201222315620
insecticide susceptibility status of phlebotomus (paraphlebotomus) sergenti and phlebotomus (phlebotomus) papatasi in endemic foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis in morocco.in morocco, cutaneous leishmaniasis is transmitted by phlebotomus sergenti and ph. papatasi. vector control is mainly based on environmental management but indoor residual spraying with synthetic pyrethroids is applied in many foci of leishmania tropica. however, the levels and distribution of sandfly susceptibility to insecticides currently used has not been studied yet. hence, this study was undertaken to establish the susceptibility status of ph. sergenti and ph. papatasi to lambdacyhalothrin ...201222429776
insecticide resistance in the sand fly, phlebotomus papatasi from khartoum state, sudan.phlebotomus papatasi the vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis (cl) is the most widely spread sand fly in sudan. no data has previously been collected on insecticide susceptibility and/or resistance of this vector, and a first study to establish a baseline data is reported here.201222397726
three drosophila hox complex micrornas do not have major effects on expression of evolutionarily conserved hox gene targets during embryogenesis.the discovery of micrornas has resulted in a major expansion of the number of molecules known to be involved in gene regulation. elucidating the functions of animal micrornas has posed a significant challenge as their target interactions with messenger rnas do not adhere to simple rules. of the thousands of known animal micrornas, relatively few microrna:messenger rna regulatory interactions have been biologically validated in an normal organismal context. here we present evidence that three mic ...201222393361
identification and characterization of a novel calcium-activated apyrase from cryptosporidium parasites and its potential role in pathogenesis.herein, we report the biochemical and functional characterization of a novel ca(2+)-activated nucleoside diphosphatase (apyrase), capy, of the intracellular gut pathogen cryptosporidium. the purified recombinant capy protein displayed activity, substrate specificity and calcium dependency strikingly similar to the previously described human apyrase, scan-1 (soluble calcium-activated nucleotidase 1). capy was found to be expressed in both cryptosporidium parvum oocysts and sporozoites, and displa ...201222363541
transcriptional profiles of mating-responsive genes from testes and male accessory glands of the mediterranean fruit fly, ceratitis capitata.insect seminal fluid is a complex mixture of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids, produced in the male reproductive tract. this seminal fluid is transferred together with the spermatozoa during mating and induces post-mating changes in the female. molecular characterization of seminal fluid proteins in the mediterranean fruit fly, ceratitis capitata, is limited, although studies suggest that some of these proteins are biologically active.201223071645
courtship behaviour of phlebotomus papatasi the sand fly vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis.the sand fly phlebotomus papatasi is an old world vector of leishmania major, the etiologic agent of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. this study describes the courtship behaviour of p. papatasi and compares it with that of lutzomyia longipalpis, the new world vector of visceral leishmaniasis. understanding the details of courtship behaviour in p. papatasi may help us to understand the role of sex pheromones in this important vector.201222935092
lufaxin, a novel factor xa inhibitor from the salivary gland of the sand fly lutzomyia longipalpis blocks protease-activated receptor 2 activation and inhibits inflammation and thrombosis in vivo.blood-sucking arthropods' salivary glands contain a remarkable diversity of antihemostatics. the aim of the present study was to identify the unique salivary anticoagulant of the sand fly lutzomyia longipalpis, which remained elusive for decades.201222796577
kinetics of antibody response in balb/c and c57bl/6 mice bitten by phlebotomus papatasi.phlebotomine sand flies are blood-sucking insects transmitting leishmania parasites. in bitten hosts, sand fly saliva elicits specific immune response and the humoral immunity was shown to reflect the intensity of sand fly exposure. thus, anti-saliva antibodies were suggested as the potential risk marker of leishmania transmission. in this study, we examined the long-term kinetics and persistence of anti-phlebotomus papatasi saliva antibody response in balb/c and c57bl/6 mice. we also tested the ...201222802977
leishmaniasis and climate change-case study: argentina.vector-borne diseases closely associated with the environment, such as leishmaniases, have been a usual argument about the deleterious impact of climate change on public health. from the biological point of view interaction of different variables has different and even conflicting effects on the survival of vectors and the probability transmission of pathogens. the results on ecoepidemiology of leishmaniasis in argentina related to climate variables at different scales of space and time are pres ...201222685477
the immune response to sand fly salivary proteins and its influence on leishmania immunity.leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease transmitted by bites of phlebotomine sand flies. during leishmania transmission, sand fly saliva is co-inoculated with parasites into the skin of the mammalian host. sand fly saliva consists of roughly thirty different salivary proteins, many with known roles linked to blood feeding facilitation. apart from the anti-hemostatic capacity of saliva, several sand fly salivary proteins have been shown to be immunogenic. immunization with a single salivary prote ...201222593758
fixed differences in the paralytic gene define two lineages within the lutzomyia longipalpis complex producing different types of courtship songs.the sand fly lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae: phlebotominae), the most important vector of american visceral leishmaniasis, is widely distributed in latin america. there is currently a consensus that it represents a species complex, however, the number and distribution of the different siblings is still uncertain. previous analyses have indicated that brazilian populations of this vector can be divided into two main groups according to the type of courtship song (burst vs. pulse) mal ...201222970200
the genetic structure of leishmania infantum populations in brazil and its possible association with the transmission cycle of visceral leishmaniasis.leishmania infantum is the etiologic agent of visceral leishmaniasis (vl) in the americas, mediterranean basin and west and central asia. although the geographic structure of l. infantum populations from the old world have been described, few studies have addressed the population structure of this parasite in the neotropical region. we employed 14 microsatellites to analyze the population structure of the l. infantum strains isolated from humans and dogs from most of the brazilian states endemic ...201222606248
analysis of salivary gland transcripts of the sand fly lutzomyia ayacuchensis, a vector of andean-type cutaneous leishmaniasis.the saliva of blood sucking insects contains potent pharmacologically active components that assist them in counteracting the host hemostatic and inflammatory systems during blood feeding. in addition, sand fly salivary proteins affect host immunity and have the potential to be a vaccine against leishmania infection. in the present study, the salivary gland transcripts of lutzomyia ayacuchensis, a vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis in ecuadorian and peruvian andes, were analyzed by sequencing ran ...201223000112
the influence of early neutrophil-leishmania interactions on the host immune response to infection.neutrophils are the first cells recruited to the dermal site of leishmania infection following injection by needle or sand fly bite. the role of neutrophils in either promoting or suppressing host immunity remains controversial. we discuss the events driving neutrophil recruitment, their interaction with the parasite and apoptotic fate, and the nature of their encounters with other innate cells. we suggest that the influence of the neutrophil response on infection outcome critically depends on t ...201222919650
new insights on the inflammatory role of lutzomyia longipalpis saliva in leishmaniasis.when an haematophagous sand fly vector insect bites a vertebrate host, it introduces its mouthparts into the skin and lacerates blood vessels, forming a hemorrhagic pool which constitutes an intricate environment of cell interactions. in this scenario, the initial performance of host, parasite, and vector "authors" will heavily influence the course of leishmania infection. recent advances in vector-parasite-host interaction have elucidated "co-authors" and "new roles" not yet described. we revie ...201222506098
american visceral leishmaniasis in chiapas, mexico.abstract. we report the results of a study conducted during 1990-2006 with 89 cases of american visceral leishmaniasis in chiapas state in southeastern mexico and a seroprevalence study performed with 726 persons and 224 dogs that lived near cases of american visceral leishmaniasis. clinical aspects, epidemiologic profiles, and risk factors are described. most cases were in children ≤ 5 years of age, the prevalence of seropositive persons was 77%. the main risk factors associated with this disea ...201222232459
cautioning the use of degree-day models for climate change projections in the presence of parametric uncertainty.developmental models, such as degree-day models, are commonly used to predict the impact of future climate change on the intensity, distribution, and timing of the transmission of infectious diseases, particularly those caused by pathogens carried by vectors or intermediate hosts. resulting projections can be useful in policy discussions concerning regional or national responses to future distributions of important infectious diseases. although the simplicity of degree-day models is appealing, l ...201223387122
molecular detection of acinetobacter species in lice and keds of domestic animals in oromia regional state, ethiopia.this study was conducted to determine the presence of acinetobacter and rickettsia species dna in lice and melophagus ovinus (sheep ked) of animals from oromia regional state in ethiopia. from september through november 2011, a total of 207 cattle, 85 sheep, 47 dogs and 16 cats were examined for ectoparasites. results of morphological identification revealed several species of ectoparasites: linognathus vituli (l. vituli), bovicola bovis (b. bovis) and solenopotes capillatus (s. capillatus) on c ...201223285015
cellular function and molecular structure of ecto-nucleotidases.ecto-nucleotidases play a pivotal role in purinergic signal transmission. they hydrolyze extracellular nucleotides and thus can control their availability at purinergic p2 receptors. they generate extracellular nucleosides for cellular reuptake and salvage via nucleoside transporters of the plasma membrane. the extracellular adenosine formed acts as an agonist of purinergic p1 receptors. they also can produce and hydrolyze extracellular inorganic pyrophosphate that is of major relevance in the c ...201222555564
investigation of the bacterial communities associated with females of lutzomyia sand fly species from south america.phlebotomine sand flies are vectors of leishmania that are acquired by the female sand fly during blood feeding on an infected mammal. leishmania parasites develop exclusively in the gut lumen during their residence in the insect before transmission to a suitable host during the next blood feed. female phlebotomine sand flies are blood feeding insects but their life style of visiting plants as well as animals, and the propensity for larvae to feed on detritus including animal faeces means that t ...201222880020
diversity of the bacterial and fungal microflora from the midgut and cuticle of phlebotomine sand flies collected in north-western iran.phlebotomine sand flies are the vectors of the leishmaniases, parasitic diseases caused by leishmania spp. little is known about the prevalence and diversity of sand fly microflora colonizing the midgut or the cuticle. particularly, there is little information on the fungal diversity. this information is important for development of vector control strategies.201223226255
significance of bacteria in oviposition and larval development of the sand fly lutzomyia longipalpis.microbial ecology of phlebotomine sand flies is not well understood although bacteria likely play an important role in the sand fly biology and vector capacity for leishmania parasites. in this study, we assessed the significance of the microbial community of rabbit feces in oviposition and larval development of lutzomyia longipalpis as well as bacterial colonization of the gut of freshly emerged flies.201222827861
Cytokine and Phenotypic Cell Profiles of Leishmania infantum Infection in the Dog.Leishmaniasis has reemerged in recent years showing a wider geographic distribution and increased global incidence of human and canine disease than previously known. Dogs are the main domestic/peridomestic reservoir hosts of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum. Since the evolution of leishmaniasis and clinical appearance is a consequence of complex interactions between the parasite and host immune response, a profound knowledge about the immune profile developed in dog' ...201221845197
the protein ljm 111 from lutzomyia longipalpis salivary gland extract (sge) accounts for the sge-inhibitory effects upon inflammatory parameters in experimental arthritis model.several studies have pointed out the immunomodulatory properties of the salivary gland extract (sge) from lutzomyia longipalpis. we aimed to identify the sge component (s) responsible for its effect on ovalbumin (ova)-induced neutrophil migration (nm) and to evaluate the effect of sge and components in the antigen-induced arthritis (aia) model. we tested the anti-arthritic activities of sge and the recombinant ljm111 salivary protein (rljm111) by measuring the mechanical hypernociception and the ...201222366405
caspar-like gene depletion reduces leishmania infection in sand fly host lutzomyia longipalpis.female phlebotomine sand flies lutzomyia longipalpis naturally harbor populations of the medically important leishmania infantum (syn. leishmania chagasi) parasite in the gut, but the extent to which the parasite interacts with the immune system of the insect vector is unknown. to investigate the sand fly immune response and its interaction with the leishmania parasite, we identified a homologue for caspar, a negative regulator of immune deficiency signaling pathway. we found that feeding antibi ...201222375009
the effect of bacterial challenge on ferritin regulation in the yellow fever mosquito, aedes aegypti.secreted ferritin is the major iron storage and transport protein in insects. here, we characterize the message and protein expression profiles of yellow fever mosquito (aedes aegypti) ferritin heavy chain homologue (hch) and light chain homologue (lch) subunits in response to iron and bacterial challenge. in vivo experiments demonstrated tissue-specific regulation of hch and lch expression over time post-blood meal (pbm). transcriptional regulation of hch and lch was treatment specific, with di ...201223956079
lutzomyia umbratilis, the main vector of leishmania guyanensis, represents a novel species complex?lutzomyia umbratilis is an important leishmania guyanensis vector in south america. previous studies have suggested differences in the vector competence between l. umbratilis populations situated on opposite banks of the amazonas and negro rivers in the central amazonian brazil region, likely indicating a species complex. however, few studies have been performed on these populations and the taxonomic status of l. umbratilis remains unclear.201222662146
leishmania development in sand flies: parasite-vector interactions overview.leishmaniases are vector-borne parasitic diseases with 0.9 - 1.4 million new human cases each year worldwide. in the vectorial part of the life-cycle, leishmania development is confined to the digestive tract. during the first few days after blood feeding, natural barriers to leishmania development include secreted proteolytic enzymes, the peritrophic matrix surrounding the ingested blood meal and sand fly immune reactions. as the blood digestion proceeds, parasites need to bind to the midgut ep ...201223206339
updating the salivary gland transcriptome of phlebotomus papatasi (tunisian strain): the search for sand fly-secreted immunogenic proteins for humans.sand fly saliva plays an important role in both blood feeding and outcome of leishmania infection. a cellular immune response against a phlebotomus papatasi salivary protein was shown to protect rodents against leishmania major infection. in humans, p. papatasi salivary proteins induce a systemic cellular immune response as well as a specific antisaliva humoral immune response, making these salivary proteins attractive targets as markers of exposure for this leishmania vector. surprisingly, the ...201223139741
kdna genetic signatures obtained by lssp-pcr analysis of leishmania (leishmania) infantum isolated from the new and the old world.visceral leishmaniasis (vl) caused by species from the leishmania donovani complex is the most severe form of the disease, lethal if untreated. vl caused by leishmania infantum is a zoonosis with an increasing number of human cases and millions of dogs infected in the old and the new world. in this study, l. infantum (syn. l.chagasi) strains were isolated from human and canine vl cases. the strains were obtained from endemic areas from brazil and portugal and their genetic polymorphism was ascer ...201222912862
reactive oxygen species-mediated immunity against leishmania mexicana and serratia marcescens in the sand phlebotomine fly lutzomyia longipalpis.phlebotomine sand flies are the vectors of medically important leishmania. the leishmania protozoa reside in the sand fly gut, but the nature of the immune response to the presence of leishmania is unknown. reactive oxygen species (ros) are a major component of insect innate immune pathways regulating gut-microbe homeostasis. here we show that the concentration of ros increased in sand fly midguts after they fed on the insect pathogen serratia marcescens but not after feeding on the leishmania t ...201222645126
biomarkers for exposure to sand flies bites as tools to aid control of leishmaniasis.intense research efforts so far have not been sufficient to reduce leishmaniasis burden worldwide. this disease is transmitted by bites of infected sand flies, which inject saliva in the host skin in an attempt to obtain a blood meal. sand fly saliva has an array of proteins with diverse pharmacological properties that modulates the host homeostatic and immune responses. some of these proteins are also immunogenic and can induce both cellular and humoral immune responses. recently, the use of sa ...201222661974
sergentomyia schwetzi is not a competent vector for leishmania donovani and other leishmania species pathogenic to humans.sand fly species of the genus sergentomyia are proven vectors of reptilian leishmania that are non-pathogenic to humans. however, a consideration of the role of sergentomyia spp. in the circulation of mammalian leishmaniasis appears repeatedly in the literature and the possibility of leishmania transmission to humans remains unclear. here we studied the susceptibility of colonized sergentomyia schwetzi to leishmania donovani and two other leishmania species pathogenic to humans: l. infantum and ...201323786805
sand-fly saliva-leishmania-man: the trigger trio.leishmaniases are worldwide diseases transmitted to the vertebrate host by the bite of an infected sand-fly. sand-fly biting and parasite inoculation are accompanied by the injection of salivary molecules, whose immunomodulatory properties are actively being studied. this mini review focuses on how the interactions between sand-fly saliva and the immune system may shape the outcome of infection, given its immunomodulatory properties, in experimental models and in the endemic area. additionally, ...201324312093
molecular and immunogenic properties of apyrase sp01b and d7-related sp04 recombinant salivary proteins of phlebotomus perniciosus from madrid, spain.sand fly salivary proteins are on the spotlight to become vaccine candidates against leishmaniasis and to markers of exposure to sand fly bites due to the host immune responses they elicit. working with the whole salivary homogenate entails serious drawbacks such as the need for maintaining sand fly colonies and the laborious task of glands dissection. in order to overcome these difficulties, producing recombinant proteins of different vectors has become a major task. in this study, a cdna libra ...201324171166
functional transcriptomics of wild-caught lutzomyia intermedia salivary glands: identification of a protective salivary protein against leishmania braziliensis infection.leishmania parasites are transmitted in the presence of sand fly saliva. together with the parasite, the sand fly injects salivary components that change the environment at the feeding site. mice immunized with phlebotomus papatasi salivary gland (sg) homogenate are protected against leishmania major infection, while immunity to lutzomyia intermedia sg homogenate exacerbated experimental leishmania braziliensis infection. in humans, antibodies to lu. intermedia saliva are associated with risk of ...201323717705
rnai-mediated knockdown of catalase causes cell cycle arrest in sl-1 cells and results in low survival rate of spodoptera litura (fabricius).deregulated reactive oxygen species (ros) production can lead to the disruption of structural and functional integrity of cells as a consequence of reactive interaction between ros and various biological components. catalase (cat) is a common enzyme existing in nearly all organisms exposed to oxygen, which decomposes harmful hydrogen peroxide, into water and oxygen. in this study, the full length sequence that encodes cat-like protein from spodoptera litura named siltcat (genbank accession numbe ...201323555693
acetylcholinesterase of the sand fly, phlebotomus papatasi (scopoli): cdna sequence, baculovirus expression, and biochemical properties.millions of people and domestic animals around the world are affected by leishmaniasis, a disease caused by various species of flagellated protozoans in the genus leishmania that are transmitted by several sand fly species. insecticides are widely used for sand fly population control to try to reduce or interrupt leishmania transmission. zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by l. major is vectored mainly by phlebotomus papatasi (scopoli) in asia and africa. organophosphates comprise a class o ...201323379291
a new model of progressive visceral leishmaniasis in hamsters by natural transmission via bites of vector sand flies.visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is transmitted by sand flies. protection of needle-challenged vaccinated mice was abrogated in vector-initiated cutaneous leishmaniasis, highlighting the importance of developing natural transmission models for vl.201323288926
transmission of pathogens by stomoxys flies (diptera, muscidae): a review.stomoxys flies are mechanical vectors of pathogens present in the blood and skin of their animal hosts, especially livestock, but occasionally humans. in livestock, their direct effects are disturbance, skin lesions, reduction of food intake, stress, blood loss, and a global immunosuppressive effect. they also induce the gathering of animals for mutual protection; meanwhile they favor development of pathogens in the hosts and their transmission. their indirect effect is the mechanical transmissi ...201323985165
novel virus discovery and genome reconstruction from field rna samples reveals highly divergent viruses in dipteran hosts.we investigated whether small rna (srna) sequenced from field-collected mosquitoes and chironomids (diptera) can be used as a proxy signature of viral prevalence within a range of species and viral groups, using srnas sequenced from wild-caught specimens, to inform total rna deep sequencing of samples of particular interest. using this strategy, we sequenced from adult anopheles maculipennis s.l. mosquitoes the apparently nearly complete genome of one previously undescribed virus related to chro ...201324260463
the possible impact of persistent virus infection on the function of the rnai machinery in insects: a hypothesis.rnai experiments in insects are characterized by great variability in efficiency; for instance beetles and locusts are very amenable to dsrna-mediated gene silencing, while other insect groups, most notably lepidopterans, are more refractory to rnai. several factors can be forwarded that could affect the efficiency of rnai, such as the composition and function of the intracellular rnai machinery, the mechanism of dsrna uptake, the presence of dsrna- and sirna-degrading enzymes and non-specific a ...201324204347
bacterial feeding, leishmania infection and distinct infection routes induce differential defensin expression in lutzomyia longipalpis.phlebotomine insects harbor bacterial, viral and parasitic pathogens that can cause diseases of public health importance. lutzomyia longipalpis is the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in the new world. insects can mount a powerful innate immune response to pathogens. defensin peptides take part in this response and are known to be active against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, and some parasites. we studied the expression of a defensin gene from lutzomyia longipalpis to understand ...201323311993
aerobic microbial community of insectary population of phlebotomus papatasi.microbes particularly bacteria presenting in the gut of haematophagous insects may have an important role in the epidemiology of human infectious disease.201325629067
ecological aspects of phlebotomine sandflies (diptera: psychodidae) from a cave of the speleological province of bambuí, brazil.phlebotomines are invertebrate hosts of leishmania genus species which are etiological agents of leishmaniases in humans and other mammals. sandflies are often collected in entomological studies of caves both in the inner area and the adjacent environments. caves are ecotypes clearly different from the external environment. several caves have been opened to public visitation before any studies were performed and the places do not have scientific monitoring of the fauna, flora, geological and geo ...201324130847
insecticide-impregnated netting as a potential tool for long-lasting control of the leishmaniasis vector lutzomyia longipalpis in animal shelters.leishmaniasis remains a serious neglected disease, with more than 350 million people potentially at risk worldwide. control strategies often rely on spraying residual insecticides to target populations of the sand fly vectors that transmit leishmania parasites when blood-feeding. these programmes are often difficult to sustain effectively, as sand fly resting sites must be resprayed on a regular basis. here, we investigate whether application of insecticide-impregnated netting to a surface could ...201323642213
the characterization of the phlebotomus papatasi transcriptome.as important vectors of human disease, phlebotomine sand flies are of global significance to human health, transmitting several emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. the most devastating of the sand fly transmitted infections are the leishmaniases, causing significant mortality and morbidity in both the old and new world. here we present the first global transcriptome analysis of the old world vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis, phlebotomus papatasi (scopoli) and compare this transcriptom ...201323398403
second international meeting of isev 2013: boston, usa, april 17(th)-20(th), 2013. 201326082317
seroconversion of sentinel chickens as a biomarker for monitoring exposure to visceral leishmaniasis.leishmania infantum chagasi causes visceral leishmaniasis (vl); it is transmitted by the sand fly lutzomyia longipalpis that injects saliva and parasites into the host's skin during a blood meal. chickens represent an important blood source for sand flies and their presence in the endemic area is often cited as a risk factor for vl transmission. however, the role of chickens in vl epidemiology has not been well defined. here, we tested if chicken antibodies against lu. longipalpis salivary gland ...201323912591
a nod to disease vectors: mitigation of pathogen sensing by arthropod saliva.arthropod saliva possesses anti-hemostatic, anesthetic, and anti-inflammatory properties that facilitate feeding and, inadvertently, dissemination of pathogens. vector-borne diseases caused by these pathogens affect millions of people each year. many studies address the impact of arthropod salivary proteins on various immunological components. however, whether and how arthropod saliva counters nod-like (nlr) sensing remains elusive. nlrs are innate immune pattern recognition molecules involved i ...201324155744
the 'ubiquitous' reality of vector immunology.ubiquitination (ubiquitylation) is a common protein modification that regulates a multitude of processes within the cell. this modification is typically accomplished through the covalent binding of ubiquitin to a lysine residue onto a target protein and is catalysed by the presence of three enzymes: an activating enzyme (e1), ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (e2) and ubiquitin-protein ligase (e3). in recent years, ubiquitination has risen as a major signalling regulator of immunity and microbial pat ...201323433059
transmission and epidemiology of zoonotic protozoal diseases of companion animals.over 77 million dogs and 93 million cats share our households in the united states. multiple studies have demonstrated the importance of pets in their owners' physical and mental health. given the large number of companion animals in the united states and the proximity and bond of these animals with their owners, understanding and preventing the diseases that these companions bring with them are of paramount importance. zoonotic protozoal parasites, including toxoplasmosis, chagas' disease, babe ...201323297259
lights, camera, and action: vertebrate skin sets the stage for immune cell interaction with arthropod-vectored pathogens.despite increasing studies targeted at host-pathogen interactions, vector-borne diseases remain one of the largest economic health burdens worldwide. such diseases are vectored by hematophagous arthropods that deposit pathogens into the vertebrate host's skin during a blood meal. these pathogens spend a substantial amount of time in the skin that allows for interaction with cutaneous immune cells, suggesting a window of opportunity for development of vaccine strategies. in particular, the recent ...201324062751
expression of the mevalonate pathway enzymes in the lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae) sex pheromone gland demonstrated by an integrated proteomic approach.in latin america, lutzomyia longipalpis is the main vector of the protozoan parasite leishmania infantum, which is the causal agent of american visceral leishmaniasis. this insect uses male-produced pheromones for mate recognition. elucidation of pheromone biogenesis or its regulation may enable molecular strategies for mating disruption and, consequently, the vector's population management. motivated by our recent results of the transcriptomic characterization of the l. longipalpis pheromone gl ...201324185139
sensitive and specific serodiagnosis of leishmania infantum infection in dogs by using peptides selected from hypothetical proteins identified by an immunoproteomic approach.in brazil, the percentage of infected dogs living in areas where canine visceral leishmaniasis (cvl) is endemic ranges from 10 to 62%; however, the prevalence of infection in dogs is probably higher than figures reported from serological studies. in addition, problems with the occurrence of false-positive or false-negative results in the serodiagnosis of cvl have been reported. the present work analyzed the potential of synthetic peptides mapped from hypothetical proteins for improvement of the ...201323554466
dual effect of lutzomyia longipalpis saliva on leishmania braziliensis infection is mediated by distinct saliva-induced cellular recruitment into balb/c mice ear.leishmania parasites are transmitted to their vertebrate hosts by infected phlebotomine sand flies during the blood meal of the flies. sand fly saliva is known to enhance leishmania spp. infection, while pre-exposure to saliva protects mice against parasitic infections. in this study, we investigated the initial inflammatory leucocyte composition induced by one or three inocula of salivary gland extract (sge) from lutzomyia longipalpis in the presence or absence of leishmania braziliensis.201323656976
characterization of phlebotomus papatasi peritrophins, and the role of ppper1 in leishmania major survival in its natural vector.the peritrophic matrix (pm) plays a key role in compartmentalization of the blood meal and as barrier to pathogens in many disease vectors. to establish an infection in sand flies, leishmania must escape from the endoperitrophic space to prevent excretion with remnants of the blood meal digestion. in spite of the role played regarding leishmania survival, little is known about sand fly pm molecular components and structural organization. we characterized three peritrophins (ppper1, ppper2, and p ...201323516661
transcriptome exploration of the sex pheromone gland of lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae: phlebotominae).molecules involved in pheromone biosynthesis may represent alternative targets for insect population control. this may be particularly useful in managing the reproduction of lutzomyia longipalpis, the main vector of the protozoan parasite leishmania infantum in latin america. besides the chemical identity of the major components of the l. longipalpis sex pheromone, there is no information regarding the molecular biology behind its production. to understand this process, obtaining information on ...201323497448
experimental models in vaccine research: malaria and leishmaniasis.animal models have a long history of being useful tools, not only to test and select vaccines, but also to help understand the elaborate details of the immune response that follows infection. different models have been extensively used to investigate putative immunological correlates of protection against parasitic diseases that are important to reach a successful vaccine. the greatest challenge has been the improvement and adaptation of these models to reflect the reality of human disease and t ...201323369975
field evaluation of alphacypermethrin in indoor residual spraying for leishmaniasis control in an endemic area, northern morocco.in morocco, the main strategies of leishmaniasis vector control are based on environmental modifications. use of local residual indoor spraying with synthetic pyrethroids is often envisaged. the need to evaluate this control method is essential. the current study was conducted to determine the efficacy of an alphacypermethrin irs program against leishmaniasis vectors in an endemic area in the north of morocco.201324330760
mechanisms of cellular invasion by intracellular parasites.numerous disease-causing parasites must invade host cells in order to prosper. collectively, such pathogens are responsible for a staggering amount of human sickness and death throughout the world. leishmaniasis, chagas disease, toxoplasmosis, and malaria are neglected diseases and therefore are linked to socio-economical and geographical factors, affecting well-over half the world's population. such obligate intracellular parasites have co-evolved with humans to establish a complexity of specif ...201324221133
fine structure of the male reproductive system and reproductive behavior of lutzomyia longipalpis sandflies (diptera: psychodidae: phlebotominae).the male reproductive system of insects can have several tissues responsible for the secretion of seminal fluid proteins (sfps), such as testes, accessory glands, seminal vesicles, ejaculatory duct and ejaculatory bulb. the sfps are transferred during mating and can induce several physiological and behavioral changes in females, such as increase in oviposition and decrease in sexual receptivity after copulation. the phlebotomine lutzomyia longipalpis is the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis. ...201324058637
the effect of avian blood on leishmania development in phlebotomus duboscqi.the development of pathogens transmitted by haematophagous invertebrate vectors is closely connected with the digestion of bloodmeals and is thus affected by midgut enzymatic activity. some studies have demonstrated that avian blood inhibits leishmania major infection in the old world vector phlebotomus papatasi; however, this effect has never been observed in the new world vectors of the genus lutzomyia infected by other leishmania species. therefore, our study was focused on the effect of chic ...201324059328
leishmaniasis transmission in an ecotourism area: potential vectors in ilha grande, rio de janeiro state, brazil.the south coast of rio de janeiro state, in brazil, is endemic for cutaneous and visceral leishmaniases and is frequently visited by tourists from different parts of the world. since the complex epidemiology of leishmaniases demands local studies, the goal of this study was to investigate the phlebotomine sand fly fauna and leishmaniases transmission in ilha grande, an ecotourism area of angra dos reis municipality.201324499568
epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis in a reemerging focus of intense transmission in minas gerais state, brazil.this study was developed in the urban area of governador valadares, a reemerging focus of intense transmission of visceral leishmaniasis (vl) in brazil, presenting 86 human cases of vl from 2008 to 2011. the disease prevailed in males (73.2%) with most patients between 0 and 9 years (44.1%) and a lethality rate of 16.2%. a canine survey was carried out on 16,529 domestic dogs in 35 districts in the area and it showed that 30.2% of them (4,992 dogs) were positive for vl by serum assays. prevalenc ...201324000322
larval breeding sites of lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae) in visceral leishmaniasis endemic urban areas in southeastern brazil.the scarcity of information on the immature stages of sand flies and their preferred breeding sites has resulted in the focus of vectorial control on the adult stage using residual insecticide house-spraying. this strategy, along with the treatment of human cases and the euthanasia of infected dogs, has proven inefficient and visceral leishmaniasis continues to expand in brazil. identifying the breeding sites of sand flies is essential to the understanding of the vector's population dynamic and ...201324069494
current and future niche of north and central american sand flies (diptera: psychodidae) in climate change scenarios.ecological niche models are useful tools to infer potential spatial and temporal distributions in vector species and to measure epidemiological risk for infectious diseases such as the leishmaniases. the ecological niche of 28 north and central american sand fly species, including those with epidemiological relevance, can be used to analyze the vector's ecology and its association with transmission risk, and plan integrated regional vector surveillance and control programs. in this study, we mod ...201324069478
sandflies (diptera, psychodidae) from forest areas in botucatu municipality, central western são paulo state, brazil.the study of the distribution and ecology of sandfly species is essential for epidemiological surveillance and estimation of the transmission risk of leishmania spp. infection.201323849624
transcriptional regulation of a chitinase gene by 20-hydroxyecdysone and starvation in the oriental fruit fly, bactrocera dorsalis.insect chitinases are hydrolytic enzymes that are required for the degradation of glycosidic bonds of chitin. in this study, we identified and characterized a full-length cdna of the chitinase gene (bdcht2) in the oriental fruit fly, bactrocera dorsalis. the cdna contains an open reading frame (orf) of 1449 bp that encodes 483 amino acid residues and 126- and 296-bp non-coding regions at the 5'- and 3'-ends, respectively. the bdcht2 genome has four exons and three introns. the predicted molecula ...201324113584
genetic structure of lutzomyia longipalpis populations in mato grosso do sul, brazil, based on microsatellite markers.lutzomyialongipalpis (diptera: psychodidae) is the major vector of leishmania (leishmania) infantum and thus plays a crucial role in the epidemiology of american visceral leishmaniasis (avl). this vector is the best studied species of sand fly in the neotropical region. many studies claim that this vector is in fact a species complex; however there is still no consensus regarding the number of species that belong into this complex or the geographical distribution of sibling species. the aim of t ...201324066129
risk factors for seroconversion by leishmania infantum in a cohort of dogs from an endemic area of brazil.visceral leishmaniasis (vl) has recently emerged in various urban and peri-urban areas of brazil and other countries. understanding the urbanization of vl requires identification of risk factors associated with human and canine infection. to determine the predictors of risk for canine vl, a survey was conducted of 1,443 dogs, from which a cohort was selected (n = 455) and evaluated for approximately 26 months. serology was conducted with two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (elisa): one conduc ...201323990996
multilocus analysis of divergence and introgression in sympatric and allopatric sibling species of the lutzomyia longipalpis complex in brazil.lutzomyia longipalpis, the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in latin america, is a complex of sibling species. in brazil, a number of very closely related sibling species have been revealed by the analyses of copulation songs, sex pheromones and molecular markers. however, the level of divergence and gene flow between the sibling species remains unclear. brazilian populations of this vector can be divided in two main groups: one producing burst-type songs and the cembrene-1 pheromone and a ...201324147172
anaerobic respiration and antioxidant responses of corythucha ciliata (say) adults to heat-induced oxidative stress under laboratory and field conditions.high temperature often induces oxidative stress and antioxidant response in insects. this phenomenon has been well documented under controlled laboratory conditions, but whether it happens under fluctuating field conditions is largely unknown. in this study, we used an invasive lace bug (corythucha ciliata) as a model species to compare the effects of controlled thermal treatments (2 h at 33-43 °c with 2 °c intervals in the laboratory) and naturally fluctuating thermal conditions (08:00-14:00 at ...201323943359
advances in methods for colour marking of mosquitoes.different techniques are available for colour marking insects and each technique may be suitable for different insect species. mosquitoes can be marked to determine population size, distribution and flight distance or distinguish closely related species. in this study, two methods of colour marking mosquitoes were described in detail and the impact of both methods on the survival and host-seeking behaviour of the malaria mosquito anopheles gambiae sensu stricto was investigated.201323835091
a deep insight into the sialotranscriptome of the mosquito, psorophora albipes.psorophora mosquitoes are exclusively found in the americas and have been associated with transmission of encephalitis and west nile fever viruses, among other arboviruses. mosquito salivary glands represent the final route of differentiation and transmission of many parasites. they also secrete molecules with powerful pharmacologic actions that modulate host hemostasis, inflammation, and immune response. here, we employed next generation sequencing and proteome approaches to investigate for the ...201324330624
purification of a serine protease and evidence for a protein c activator from the saliva of the tick, ixodes scapularis.the saliva of ticks is critical to their survival as parasites and hematophagous animals. in this study, we have purified an enzyme with trypsin-like activity from the saliva of the tick vector of lyme disease, ixodes scapularis. this enzyme, named as ixosp (i. scapularis salivary serine protease), is a 29.9 kda molecule with n-terminus fpxmvxlrikxr. a blast search identified ixosp as a secreted serine protease (aay66740) with a conserved catalytic triad his, asp, and ser. in vitro studies demon ...201324184517
different host complement systems and their interactions with saliva from lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera, psychodidae) and leishmania infantum promastigotes.lutzomyia longipalpis is the vector of leishmania infantum in the new world, and its saliva inhibits classical and alternative human complement system pathways. this inhibition is important in protecting the insect´s midgut from damage by the complement. l. longipalpis is a promiscuous blood feeder and must be protected against its host's complement. the objective of this study was to investigate the action of salivary complement inhibitors on the sera of different host species, such as dogs, gu ...201324255715
effects of aedes aegypti salivary components on dendritic cell and lymphocyte biology.saliva is a key element of interaction between hematophagous mosquitoes and their vertebrate hosts. in addition to allowing a successful blood meal by neutralizing or delaying hemostatic responses, the salivary cocktail is also able to modulate the effector mechanisms of host immune responses facilitating, in turn, the transmission of several types of microorganisms. understanding how the mosquito uses its salivary components to circumvent host immunity might help to clarify the mechanisms of tr ...201324238038
chemical composition and insecticidal activity of plant essential oils from benin against anopheles gambiae (giles).insecticide resistance in sub-saharan africa and especially in benin is a major public health issue hindering the control of the malaria vectors. each anopheles species has developed a resistance to one or several classes of the insecticides currently in use in the field. therefore, it is urgent to find alternative compounds to conquer the vector. in this study, the efficacies of essential oils of nine plant species, which are traditionally used to avoid mosquito bites in benin, were investigate ...201324298981
the mating competence of geographically diverse leishmania major strains in their natural and unnatural sand fly vectors.invertebrate stages of leishmania are capable of genetic exchange during their extracellular growth and development in the sand fly vector. here we explore two variables: the ability of diverse l. major strains from across its natural range to undergo mating in pairwise tests; and the timing of the appearance of hybrids and their developmental stage associations within both natural (phlebotomus duboscqi) and unnatural (lutzomyia longipalpis) sand fly vectors. following co-infection of flies with ...201323935521
salivary antigen-5/cap family members are cu2+-dependent antioxidant enzymes that scavenge o₂₋. and inhibit collagen-induced platelet aggregation and neutrophil oxidative burst.the function of the antigen-5/cap family of proteins found in the salivary gland of bloodsucking animals has remained elusive for decades. antigen-5 members from the hematophagous insects dipetalogaster maxima (dmav) and triatoma infestans (tiav) were expressed and discovered to attenuate platelet aggregation, atp secretion, and thromboxane a2 generation by low doses of collagen (<1 μg/ml) but no other agonists. dmav did not interact with collagen, glycoprotein vi, or integrin α2β1. this inhibit ...201323564450
positive selection drives accelerated evolution of mosquito salivary genes associated with blood-feeding.the saliva of bloodsucking animals contains dozens to hundreds of proteins that counteract their hosts' haemostasis, inflammation and immunity. it was previously observed that salivary proteins involved in haematophagy are much more divergent in their primary sequence than those of housekeeping function, when comparisons were made between closely related organisms. while this pattern of evolution could result from relaxed selection or drift, it could alternatively be the result of positive selec ...201324237399
age-dependent female responses to a male ejaculate signal alter demographic opportunities for selection.a central tenet of evolutionary explanations for ageing is that the strength of selection wanes with age. however, data on age-specific expression and benefits of sexually selected traits are lacking-particularly for traits subject to sexual conflict. we addressed this by using as a model the responses of drosophila melanogaster females of different ages to receipt of sex peptide (sp), a seminal fluid protein transferred with sperm during mating. sp can mediate sexual conflict, benefitting males ...201323843383
culling dogs in scenarios of imperfect control: realistic impact on the prevalence of canine visceral leishmaniasis.visceral leishmaniasis belongs to the list of neglected tropical diseases and is considered a public health problem worldwide. spatial correlation between the occurrence of the disease in humans and high rates of canine infection suggests that in the presence of the vector, canine visceral leishmaniasis is the key factor for triggering transmission to humans. despite the control strategies implemented, such as the sacrifice of infected dogs being put down, the incidence of american visceral leis ...201323951375
estimating the optimal control of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis by the use of a mathematical model.we argue that the strategy of culling infected dogs is not the most efficient way to control zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (zvl) and that, in the presence of alternative control strategies with better potential results, official programs of compulsory culling adopted by some countries are inefficient and unethical. we base our arguments on a mathematical model for the study of control strategies against zvl, which allows the comparison of the efficacies of 5, alternative strategies. we demonst ...201323990761
validity and reliability of enzyme immunoassays using leishmania major or l. infantum antigens for the diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis in brazil.american visceral leishmaniasis is caused by the protozoan leishmania infantum. dogs are the main reservoirs in the domestic transmission cycle. the limited accuracy of diagnostic tests for canine leishmaniasis may contribute to the lack of impact of control measures recommended by the brazilian ministry of health. the objective of this study was to estimate the accuracy of two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays employing l. major or l. infantum antigens and their reliability between three labor ...201323922884
expression of toll-like receptors 2 and 9 in cells of dog jejunum and colon naturally infected with leishmania infantum.infection with parasite protozoa is a long-term health issue in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world. the toll-like receptor (tlr) signaling pathway is one of the first-responding defense systems against leishmania. the aim of this study was to investigate the expression of tlr2 and tlr9 in jejunum and colon and its correlation with cd11c, cd11b, and cd14 receptors used as markers for dendritic cells and macrophages.201323668673
experimental infection of dogs with leishmania and saliva as a model to study canine visceral leishmaniasis.canine visceral leishmaniasis (cvl) is a zoonotic disease caused by leishmania infantum, transmitted by the bite of lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies. dogs are the main domestic reservoir of the parasite. the establishment of an experimental model that partially reproduces natural infection in dogs is very important to test vaccine candidates, mainly regarding those that use salivary proteins from the vector and new therapeutical approaches.201323577121
evaluation of pcr procedures for detecting and quantifying leishmania donovani dna in large numbers of dried human blood samples from a visceral leishmaniasis focus in northern ethiopia.visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is a disseminated protozoan infection caused by leishmania donovani parasites which affects almost half a million persons annually. most of these are from the indian sub-continent, east africa and brazil. our study was designed to elucidate the role of symptomatic and asymptomatic leishmania donovani infected persons in the epidemiology of vl in northern ethiopia.201323530965
first comparative transcriptomic analysis of wild adult male and female lutzomyia longipalpis, vector of visceral leishmaniasis.leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease with a complex epidemiology and ecology. visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is its most severe clinical form as it results in death if not treated. in latin america vl is caused by the protist parasite leishmania infantum (syn. chagasi) and transmitted by lutzomyia longipalpis. this phlebotomine sand fly is only found in the new world, from mexico to argentina. however, due to deforestation, migration and urbanisation, among others, vl in latin america is undergo ...201323554910
the efficacy of l. (l.) chagasi excreted-secreted antigens (esas) for visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis is due to low levels of cross-reactivity.the analysis of promastigote excreted-secreted antigen (esa) reactivity with 53 visceral leishmaniasis (vl) cases showed that each sample reacted regardless of the antigen or the leishmania species used in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) displayed 100% positivity with the l. (l.) chagasi esa-blot recognizing bands of molecular weight ranging from 26.5 to 31.5 kda. the analysis of 160 non-visceral cases showed that 5% of the samples cross-reacted with the l. (l.) chagasi esa-elisa and 9 ...201323324219
canine visceral leishmaniasis as a systemic fibrotic disease.we propose that canine visceral leishmaniasis (cvl) is a systemic fibrotic disease, as evidenced by the wide distribution of fibrosis that we have found in the dogs suffering from chronic condition. the inflammatory cells apparently direct fibrosis formation. twenty-four cases (symptomatic dogs) were identified from a total of one hundred and five cases that had been naturally infected with leishmania chagasi and had been documented during an epidemiological survey of cvl carried out by the metr ...201323419132
evaluation of rk39 rapid diagnostic tests for canine visceral leishmaniasis: longitudinal study and meta-analysis.there is a need for sensitive and specific rapid diagnostic tests (rdt) for canine visceral leishmaniasis. the aims of this study were to evaluate the diagnostic performance of immunochromatographic dipstick rdts using rk39 antigen for canine visceral leishmaniasis by (i) investigating the sensitivity of rdts to detect infection, disease and infectiousness in a longitudinal cohort study of natural infection in brazil, and (ii) using meta-analysis to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of rd ...201323326615
determinants for the development of visceral leishmaniasis disease.leishmaniasis is a vector-borne neglected tropical disease associated with a spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from self-healing cutaneous lesions to fatal visceral infections. among the most important questions in leishmania research is why some species like l. donovani infect visceral organs, whereas other species like l. major remain in the skin. the determinants of visceral leishmaniasis are still poorly understood, although genomic, immunologic, and animal models are beginning to ...201323300451
relative risk of visceral leishmaniasis in brazil: a spatial analysis in urban area.visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is a vector-borne disease whose factors involved in transmission are poorly understood, especially in more urban and densely populated counties. in brazil, the vl urbanization is a challenge for the control program. the goals were to identify the greater risk areas for human vl and the risk factors involved in transmission.201324244776
ecology of lutzomyia longipalpis in an area of visceral leishmaniasis transmission in north-eastern brazil.visceral leishmaniasis is a major public health issue in south america, where the disease is rapidly spreading. changes in ecology and distribution of the principal vector, lutzomyia longipalpis are among the factors accounting for the increasing incidence of the disease in this region. however, information about the ecology of l. longipalpis is still incipient, which may directly impair the implementation of effective control programs. herein, the ecology of l. longipalpis was studied in a focu ...201323369878
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