Publications

leishmanicidal activity in vitro of musa paradisiaca l. and spondias mombin l. fractions.	visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is a zoonotic disease characterized by infection of mononuclear phagocytes by leishmania chagasi. the primary vector is lutzomyia longipalpis and the dog is the main domestic reservoir. the control and current treatment of dogs using synthetic drugs have not shown effectiveness in reducing the incidence of disease in man. in attempt to find new compounds with leishmanicidal action, plant secondary metabolites have been studied in search of treatments of vl. this study ...	2011	22521971
Human cellular immune response to the saliva of Phlebotomus papatasi is mediated by IL-10-producing CD8+ T cells and Th1-polarized CD4+ lymphocytes.	The saliva of sand flies strongly enhances the infectivity of Leishmania in mice. Additionally, pre-exposure to saliva can protect mice from disease progression probably through the induction of a cellular immune response.	2011	21991402
lulo cell line derived from lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae): a novel model to assay leishmania spp. and vector interaction.	leishmania (vianna) braziliensis, leishmania (leishmania) amazonensis and leishmania (leishmania) chagasi are important parasites in the scenario of leishmaniasis in brazil. during the life cycle of these parasites, the promastigote forms adhere to the midgut epithelial microvillii of phlebotomine insects to avoid being secreted along with digestive products. lulo cells are a potential model that will help to understand the features of this adhesion phenomenon. here, we analyze the interaction b ...	2011	22082050
The Enhancer of split complex arose prior to the diversification of schizophoran flies and is strongly conserved between Drosophila and stalk-eyed flies (Diopsidae).	ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: In Drosophila, the Enhancer of Split complex (E(spl)-C) comprises 11 bHLH and Bearded genes that function during Notch signaling to repress proneural identity in the developing peripheral nervous system. Comparison with other insects indicates that the basal state for Diptera is a single bHLH and Bearded homolog and that the expansion of the gene complex occurred in the lineage leading to Drosophila. However, comparative genomic data from other fly species that would eluci ...	2011	22151427
prevalence and factors associated with leishmania infantum infection of dogs from an urban area of brazil as identified by molecular methods.	various factors contribute to the urbanization of the visceral leishmaniasis (vl), including the difficulties of implementing control measures relating to the domestic reservoir. the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of canine visceral leishmaniasis in an urban endemic area in brazil and the factors associated with leishmania infantum infection among seronegative and pcr-positive dogs.	2011	21858243
Canine antibody response to Phlebotomus perniciosus bites negatively correlates with the risk of Leishmania infantum transmission.	Phlebotomine sand flies are blood-sucking insects that can transmit Leishmania parasites. Hosts bitten by sand flies develop an immune response against sand fly salivary antigens. Specific anti-saliva IgG indicate the exposure to the vector and may also help to estimate the risk of Leishmania spp. transmission. In this study, we examined the canine antibody response against the saliva of Phlebotomus perniciosus, the main vector of Leishmania infantum in the Mediterranean Basin, and characterized ...	2011	22022626
An insight into the sialome of Simulium guianense (DIPTERA:SIMULIIDAE), the main vector of River Blindness Disease in Brazil.	ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Little is known about the composition and function of the saliva in black flies such as Simulium guianense, the main vector of river blindness disease in Brazil. The complex salivary potion of hematophagous arthropods counteracts their host's hemostasis, inflammation, and immunity. RESULTS: Transcriptome analysis revealed ubiquitous salivary protein families - such as the Antigen-5, Yellow, Kunitz domain, and serine proteases--in the S. guianense sialotranscriptome. Insec ...	2011	22182526
implication of haematophagous arthropod salivary proteins in host-vector interactions.	the saliva of haematophagous arthropods contains an array of anti-haemostatic, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory molecules that contribute to the success of the blood meal. the saliva of haematophagous arthropods is also involved in the transmission and the establishment of pathogens in the host and in allergic responses. this survey provides a comprehensive overview of the pharmacological activity and immunogenic properties of the main salivary proteins characterised in various haematophag ...	2011	21951834
[evidence of transmission of visceral leishmaniasis by lutzomyia cruzi in the municipality of jaciara, state of mato grosso, brazil].	the municipality of jaciara was classified in 2003 as a transmission area for visceral leishmaniasis in outbreak situations. this study aimed to establish evidence of transmission of leishmania (leishmania) infantum chagasi by lutzomyia cruzi in the municipality of jaciara, state of mato grosso, brazil.	2011	21340413
leishmania infection in humans, dogs and sandflies in a visceral leishmaniasis endemic area in maranhão, brazil.	leishmania infection in humans, dogs and sandflies was examined in the endemic visceral leishmaniasis (vl) municipality of raposa, state of maranhão, brazil. in this study, we examined leishmania chagasi infection in the blood serum of both humans and canis familiaris and the natural leishmania sp. infection rate in the sandfly vector, lutzomyia longipalpis. enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, indirect immunofluorescence reaction and polymerase chain reaction were performed to detect leishmania i ...	2011	21537682
vaccines to combat the neglected tropical diseases.	the neglected tropical diseases (ntds) represent a group of parasitic and related infectious diseases such as amebiasis, chagas disease, cysticercosis, echinococcosis, hookworm, leishmaniasis, and schistosomiasis. together, these conditions are considered the most common infections in low- and middle-income countries, where they produce a level of global disability and human suffering equivalent to better known conditions such as human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome an ...	2011	21198676
sub-additive effect of conspecific eggs and frass on oviposition rate of lutzomyia longipalpis and phlebotomus papatasi.	oviposition behavior is a fairly neglected aspect in our understanding of the biology of sand flies. in this study, we used a comparative approach using both new- and old-world species (lutzomyia longipalpis and phlebotomus papatasi) in choice and no-choice oviposition chambers to evaluate the effect of old sand fly colony remains (frass), conspecific eggs, and their combination on oviposition rates of these sand flies. we also tested the effect of egg washing with de-ionized water on ovipositio ...	2011	21366766
imidacloprid as a potential agent for the systemic control of sand flies.	our goal was to study the effectiveness of the insecticide imidacloprid as a systemic control agent. first, to evaluate the blood-feeding effect, we fed adult female phlebotomus papatasi with imidacloprid-treated rabbit blood and monitored blood-feeding success and survival. second, to evaluate the feed-through effectiveness of this insecticide, we fed laboratory rats and sand rats with insecticide-treated food and evaluated the survival of sand fly larvae feeding on rodents' feces. in the blood ...	2011	21366768
reactive oxygen species scavenging by catalase is important for female lutzomyia longipalpis fecundity and mortality.	the phlebotomine sand fly lutzomyia longipalpis is the most important vector of american visceral leishmaniasis (avl), the disseminated and most serious form of the disease in central and south america. in the natural environment, most female l. longipalpis are thought to survive for less than 10 days and will feed on blood only once or twice during their lifetime. successful transmission of parasites occurs when a leishmania-infected female sand fly feeds on a new host. knowledge of factors aff ...	2011	21408075
plant extracts, isolated phytochemicals, and plant-derived agents which are lethal to arthropod vectors of human tropical diseases--a review.	the recent scientific literature on plant-derived agents with potential or effective use in the control of the arthropod vectors of human tropical diseases is reviewed. arthropod-borne tropical diseases include: amebiasis, chagas disease (american trypanosomiasis), cholera, cryptosporidiosis, dengue (hemorrhagic fever), epidemic typhus (brill-zinsser disease), filariasis (elephantiasis), giardia (giardiasis), human african trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), isosporiasis, leishmaniasis, lyme di ...	2011	21432748
humoral response to the anopheles gambiae salivary protein gsg6: a serological indicator of exposure to afrotropical malaria vectors.	salivary proteins injected by blood feeding arthropods into their hosts evoke a saliva-specific humoral response which can be useful to evaluate exposure to bites of disease vectors. however, saliva of hematophagous arthropods is a complex cocktail of bioactive factors and its use in immunoassays can be misleading because of potential cross-reactivity to other antigens. toward the development of a serological marker of exposure to afrotropical malaria vectors we expressed the anopheles gambiae g ...	2011	21437289
infectivity to phlebotomus perniciosus of dogs naturally parasitized with leishmania infantum after different treatments.	abstract:	2011	21489241
[distribution of lutzomyia longipalpis in the argentine mesopotamia, 2010].	the first case of visceral leishmaniasis (vl) in argentina was reported in 2006 in posadas, misiones. during the summer 2008-2009 lutzomyia longipalpis, the vl vector, and canine vl cases were already spread along the province of corrientes. in order to know the distribution of vl risk, systematic captures of the vector were performed between february and march 2010, in 18 areas of the provinces of entre ríos and corrientes, and the city of puerto iguazú, misiones, with a total of 313 traps/nigh ...	2011	21296716
functional genomics of the horn fly, haematobia irritans (linnaeus, 1758).	the horn fly, haematobia irritans (linnaeus, 1758) (diptera: muscidae) is one of the most important ectoparasites of pastured cattle. horn flies infestations reduce cattle weight gain and milk production. additionally, horn flies are mechanical vectors of different pathogens that cause disease in cattle. the aim of this study was to conduct a functional genomics study in female horn flies using expressed sequence tags (est) analysis and rna interference (rnai).	2011	21310032
canine visceral leishmaniasis in teresina, brazil: relationship between clinical features and infectivity for sand flies.	leishmania chagasi is an intracellular parasite transmitted by the bite of the phlebotomine sand fly lutzomyia longipalpis, which is the most important of american visceral leishmaniasis. in the gut of the vector, amastigoste forms of the parasite transform into metacyclic promastigotes, from there to the foregut, where they could be transmitted in the next blood meal. xenodiagnosis is an important tool for the detection of leishmania, especially when associated to molecular techniques, both bei ...	2011	20816657
characterization of the antibody response to the saliva of phlebotomus papatasi in people living in endemic areas of cutaneous leishmaniasis.	abstract. important data obtained in mice raise the possibility that immunization against the saliva of sand flies could protect from leishmaniasis. sand fly saliva stimulates the production of specific antibodies in individuals living in endemic areas of parasite transmission. to characterize the humoral immune response against the saliva of phlebotomus papatasi in humans, we carried out a prospective study on 200 children living in areas of leishmania major transmission. we showed that 83% of ...	2011	21540371
leishmania (viannia) infection in the domestic dog in chaparral, colombia.	abstract. peridomestic transmission of american cutaneous leishmaniasis is increasingly reported and dogs may be a reservoir of leishmania (viannia) in this setting. we investigated the prevalence of infection in dogs in chaparral county, colombia, the focus of an epidemic of human cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by leishmania (viannia) guyanensis. two (0.72%) of 279 dogs had lesions typical of cutaneous leishmaniasis that were biopsy positive by kinetoplast dna polymerase chain reaction-southern ...	2011	21540374
the midgut transcriptome of phlebotomus (larroussius) perniciosus, a vector of leishmania infantum: comparison of sugar fed and blood fed sand flies.	abstract:	2011	21569254
comparative genomic analysis of chitinase and chitinase-like genes in the african malaria mosquito (anopheles gambiae).	chitinase is an important enzyme responsible for chitin metabolism in a wide range of organisms including bacteria, yeasts and other fungi, nematodes and arthropods. however, current knowledge on chitinolytic enzymes, especially their structures, functions and regulation is very limited. in this study we have identified 20 chitinase and chitinase-like genes in the african malaria mosquito, anopheles gambiae, through genome-wide searching and transcript profiling. we assigned these genes into eig ...	2011	21611131
visualisation of leishmania donovani fluorescent hybrids during early stage development in the sand fly vector.	the leishmania protozoan parasites cause devastating human diseases. leishmania have been considered to replicate clonally, without genetic exchange. however, an accumulation of evidence indicates that there are inter-specific and intra-specific hybrids among natural populations. the first and so far only experimental proof of genetic exchange was obtained in 2009 when double drug resistant leishmania major hybrids were produced by co-infecting sand flies with two strains carrying different drug ...	2011	21637755
lutzomyia longipalpis saliva or salivary protein ljm19 protects against leishmania braziliensis and the saliva of its vector, lutzomyia intermedia.	leishmania transmission occurs in the presence of insect saliva. immunity to phlebotomus papatasi or lutzomyia longipalpis saliva or salivary components confers protection against an infection by leishmania in the presence of the homologous saliva. however, immunization with lutzomyia intermedia saliva did not protect mice against leishmania braziliensis plus lu. intermedia saliva. in the present study, we have studied whether the immunization with lu. longipalpis saliva or a dna plasmid coding ...	2011	21655303
lutzomyia longipalpis in uruguay: the first report and the potential of visceral leishmaniasis transmission.	phlebotomine captures were performed in february 2010 in salto (salto department) and bella unión-cuarein (artigas department), uruguay. bella unión is located across the paraná river from monte caseros, argentina, where a focus of canine visceral leishmaniasis (vl) was reported in 2009. no vl cases have ever been recorded in uruguay and the last reported capture of phlebotominae was in 1932 (lutzomyia cortelezzii and lutzomyia gaminarai). light traps were placed in peridomestic environments, an ...	2011	21655832
behavioral evidence for the presence of a sex pheromone in male phlebotomus papatasi scopoli (diptera: psychodidae).	phlebotomus papatasi (diptera: psychodidae) is the old world sand fly vector of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by leishmania major (trypanosomatidae: kinetoplastida), a debilitating and disfiguring protist parasitic disease prevalent throughout southern mediterranean countries, the middle east, as well as southern and eastern european countries, where it is regarded as a serious public health problem. little is known of the mating ecology of p. papatasi, and, in particular, the role (if ...	2011	21661311
comparative microsatellite typing of new world leishmania infantum reveals low heterogeneity among populations and its recent old world origin.	leishmania infantum (syn. l. chagasi) is the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis (vl) in the new world (nw) with endemic regions extending from southern usa to northern argentina. the two hypotheses about the origin of vl in the nw suggest (1) recent importation of l. infantum from the old world (ow), or (2) an indigenous origin and a distinct taxonomic rank for the nw parasite. multilocus microsatellite typing was applied in a survey of 98 l. infantum isolates from different nw foci. the ...	2011	21666787
structure and function of a "yellow" protein from saliva of the sand fly lutzomyia longipalpis that confers protective immunity against leishmania major infection.	ljm11, an abundant salivary protein from the sand fly lutzomyia longipalpis, belongs to the insect yellow family of proteins. in this study, we immunized mice with 17 plasmids encoding lu. longiplapis salivary proteins and demonstrated that ljm11 confers protective immunity against leishmania major infection. this protection correlates with a strong induction of a delayed-type hypersensitivity (dth) response following exposure to lu. longipalpis saliva. additionally, splenocytes of exposed mice ...	2011	21795673
experimental transmission of leishmania infantum by two major vectors: a comparison between a viscerotropic and a dermotropic strain.	we quantified leishmania infantum parasites transmitted by natural vectors for the first time. both l. infantum strains studied, dermotropic cuk3 and viscerotropic imt373, developed well in phlebotomus perniciosus and lutzomyia longipalpis. they produced heavy late-stage infection and colonized the stomodeal valve, which is a prerequisite for successful transmission. infected sand fly females, and especially those that transmit parasites, feed significantly longer on the host (1.5-1.8 times) tha ...	2011	21695108
colonization of phlebotomus papatasi changes the effect of pre-immunization with saliva from lack of protection towards protection against experimental challenge with leishmania major and saliva.	sand fly saliva has been postulated as a potential vaccine or as a vaccine component within multi component vaccine against leishmaniasis. it is important to note that these studies were performed using long-term colonized phlebotomus papatasi. the effect of sand flies colonization on the outcome of leishmania infection is reported.	2011	21726438
leishmaniasis: middle east and north africa research and development priorities.		2011	21814585
use of the checkerboard dna-dna hybridization technique for bacteria detection in aedes aegypti (diptera:culicidae) (l.).	bacteria associated with insects can have a substantial impact on the biology and life cycle of their host. the checkerboard dna-dna hybridization technique is a semi-quantitative technique that has been previously employed in odontology to detect and quantify a variety of bacterial species in dental samples. here we tested the applicability of the checkerboard dna-dna hybridization technique to detect the presence of aedes aegypti-associated bacterial species in larvae, pupae and adults of a. a ...	2011	22185193
genomic identification of a putative circadian system in the cladoceran crustacean daphnia pulex.	essentially nothing is known about the molecular underpinnings of crustacean circadian clocks. the genome of daphnia pulex, the only crustacean genome available for public use, provides a unique resource for identifying putative circadian proteins in this species. here, the daphnia genome was mined for putative circadian protein genes using drosophila melanogaster queries. the sequences of core clock (e.g. clock, cycle, period, timeless and cryptochrome 2), clock input (cryptochrome 1) and clock ...	2011	21798832
identification, phylogenetic analysis and expression profile of an anionic insect defensin gene, with antibacterial activity, from bacterial-challenged cotton leafworm, spodoptera littoralis.	defensins are a well known family of cationic antibacterial peptides (amps) isolated from fungi, plants, insects, mussels, birds, and various mammals. they are predominantly active against gram (+) bacteria, and a few of them are also active against gram (-) bacteria and fungi. all insect defensins belonging to the invertebrate class have a consensus motif, c-x₅₋₁₆-c-x₃-c-x₉₋₁₀-c-x₄₋₇-cx₁-c. only seven amps have already been found in different lepidopteran species. no report was published on the ...	2011	22067477
alboserpin, a factor xa inhibitor from the mosquito vector of yellow fever, binds heparin and membrane phospholipids and exhibits antithrombotic activity.	the molecular mechanism of factor xa (fxa) inhibition by alboserpin, the major salivary gland anticoagulant from the mosquito and yellow fever vector aedes albopictus, has been characterized. cdna of alboserpin predicts a 45-kda protein that belongs to the serpin family of protease inhibitors. recombinant alboserpin displays stoichiometric, competitive, reversible and tight binding to fxa (picomolar range). binding is highly specific and is not detectable for fx, catalytic site-blocked fxa, thro ...	2011	21673107
utility of filter paper for preserving insects, bacteria, and host reservoir dna for molecular testing.	appropriate methodology for storage biological materials, extraction of dna, and proper dna preservation is vital for studies involving genetic analysis of insects, bacteria, and reservoir hosts as well as for molecular diagnostics of pathogens carried by vectors and reservoirs. here we tried to evaluate the utility of a simple filter paper-based for storage of insects, bacteria, rodent, and human dnas using pcr assays.	2011	22808417
distribution of phlebotomine fauna (diptera: psychodidae) across an urban-rural gradient in an area of endemic visceral leishmaniasis in northern brazil.	the number of visceral leishmaniasis (vl) cases has increased over the past 10 years in brazil, especially in the north and northeast regions of the country. the aim of this study was to evaluate the urbanisation of vl vectors in barcarena, pará, an area in northern brazil where vl is endemic. sandflies were captured using centers for disease control (cdc) light traps along an urban-rural gradient. the cdc traps were installed inside hen houses at a height of 150 cm. a total of 5,089 sandflies w ...	2011	22241130
Histopathological and parasitological study of the gastrointestinal tract of dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum.	ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to provide a systematic pathological and parasitological overview of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), including the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, caecum and colon, of dogs naturally infected with Leishmania. METHODS: Twenty mongrel dogs naturally infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum and obtained from the Control Zoonosis Center of the Municipality of Ribeirao das Neves, Belo Horizonte Metropolitan area, Minas Gerais (MG) state, Br ...	2011	22166041
maxadilan, the lutzomyia longipalpis vasodilator, drives plasma leakage via pac1-cxcr1/2-pathway.	experiments were designed to determine if the vasodilatory peptides maxadilan and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (pacap-38) may cause plasma leakage through activation of leukocytes and to what extent these effects could be due to pac1 and cxcr1/2 receptor stimulation. intravital microscopy of hamster cheek pouches utilizing fitc-dextran and rhodamine, respectively, as plasma and leukocyte markers was used to measure arteriolar diameter, plasma leakage and leukocyte accumulation ...	2011	22036674
aircraft and risk of importing a new vector of visceral leishmaniasis.	to the editor: kala-azar, or visceral leishmaniasis, is a parasitic disease that leads to fever, anemia, and hepatosplenomegaly. death is the usual outcome when infection is not treated. the majority of infections are caused by the protozoan leishmania donovani, restricted to india and eastern africa, but the most widespread are caused by l. infantum, found from people's republic of china to the new world, where it infects humans, dogs, and wild canids. all mediterranean countries are affected b ...	2011	21762613
Genetic differentiation in natural populations of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva) (Diptera: Psychodidae) with different phenotypic spot patterns on tergites in males.	Entomological surveys in the state of Maranhão have recorded morphologically distinct populations of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva). Some populations have one pair of spots (1S) on the fourth tergite, while others have two pairs (2S) on the third and fourth tergites of males. In the present study we investigated the degree of genetic polymorphism among four populations in the municipalities of Caxias, Codó and Raposa, in the state of Maranhão, Brazil, by using RAPD (Random Amplified Polymo ...	2011	21952969
One Health: the global challenge of epidemic and endemic leishmaniasis.	'One Health' proposes the unification of medical and veterinary sciences with the establishment of collaborative ventures in clinical care, surveillance and control of cross-species disease, education, and research into disease pathogenesis, diagnosis, therapy and vaccination. The concept encompasses the human population, domestic animals and wildlife, and the impact that environmental changes ('environmental health') such as global warming will have on these populations. Visceral leishmaniasis ...	2011	21985335
phlebotomine sand flies and canine infection in areas of human visceral leishmaniasis, cuiabá, mato grosso.	visceral leishmaniasis is a systemic infectious disease that can cause to a severe, potentially life-threatening chronic condition in humans. risk factors for infection in urban areas have been associated with poor living conditions, the presence of sand fly vectors and infected pets. this study aimed to describe sand fly and canine infection in the neighborhoods of human visceral leishmaniasis occurrence in the city of cuiabá, mato grosso state, central-western brazil, reported between january ...	2011	21961754
metagenomic analysis of taxa associated with lutzomyia longipalpis, vector of visceral leishmaniasis, using an unbiased high-throughput approach.	leishmaniasis is one of the most diverse and complex of all vector-borne diseases worldwide. it is caused by parasites of the genus leishmania, obligate intramacrophage protists characterised by diversity and complexity. its most severe form is visceral leishmaniasis (vl), a systemic disease that is fatal if left untreated. in latin america vl is caused by leishmania infantum chagasi and transmitted by lutzomyia longipalpis. this phlebotomine sandfly is only found in the new world, from mexico t ...	2011	21909446
toll receptors type-2 and cr3 expression of canine monocytes and its correlation with immunohistochemistry and xenodiagnosis in visceral leishmaniasis.	the aim of the present study was to investigate tlr2 expression in peripheral blood monocytes from dogs naturally infected with leishmania (leishmania) infantum to determine whether it correlates with cd11b/cd18 (cr3) expression, and to evaluate the potential of dogs as sources of infection using phlebotomine xenodiagnosis. forty eight dogs were serologically diagnosed with l. infantum infection by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (ifat) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (elisa). pa ...	2011	22140456
[distribution of lutzomyia longipalpis in the chaco region, argentina, 2010.]	the appearance of the vector of visceral leishmaniasis (vl) lutzomyia longipalpis in the province of formosa in 2004 was associated with urban epidemic risk for the first time in argentina. during 2006, vectors, canine and human cases of vl were reported in the province of misiones, and in summer 2008-2009, in the province of corrientes. in santiago del estero province in 2008, cases of human and canine vl were associated with secondary vectors. therefore, with the aim to know the current distri ...	2011	21745770
no recent adaptive selection on the apyrase of mediterranean phlebotomus: implications for using salivary peptides to vaccinate against canine leishmaniasis.	vaccine development is informed by a knowledge of genetic variation among antigen alleles, especially the distribution of positive and balancing selection in populations and species. a combined approach using population genetic and phylogenetic methods to detect selective signatures can therefore be informative for identifying vaccine candidates. parasitic leishmania species cause the disease leishmaniasis in humans and mammalian reservoir hosts after inoculation by female phlebotomine sandflies ...	2011	25568049
acoustic signals in the sand fly lutzomyia (nyssomyia) intermedia (diptera: psychodidae).	acoustic signals are part of the courtship of many insects and they often act as species-specific signals that are important in the reproductive isolation of closely related species. here we report the courtship songs of the sand fly lutzomyia (nyssomyia) intermedia, one of the main vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in brazil.	2011	21569534
phlebotomine fauna (diptera: psychodidae) and putative vectors of leishmaniases in impacted area by hydroelectric plant, state of tocantins, brazil.	although leishmaniases are regarded as serious public health issues in the state of tocantins, as consequence of the impact of environmental changes, small advances in taxonomic and ecological studies of phlebotominae fauna are taking place in this state. the present study aimed to improve the knowledge about the sand flies, as well as about the aspects of the bioecology of leishmaniases vectors from porto nacional, a city that was directly impacted by the construction of luís eduardo magalhães ...	2011	22163271
pheromone gland development and pheromone production in lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae: phlebotominae).	the sand fly lutzomyia longipalpis (lutz & neiva) (diptera: psychodidae: phlebotominae) is the main vector of american visceral leishmaniasis. adult males produce a terpenoid sex pheromone that in some cases also acts as male aggregation pheromone. we have analyzed the correlation between male pheromone production levels and pheromone gland cell morphogenesis after adult emergence from pupae. the abdominal tergites of l. longipalpis males were dissected and fixed in glutaraldehyde for transmissi ...	2011	21661306
report of lutzomyia longipalpis (lutz & neiva, 1912) (diptera: psychodidae: phlebotominae) in a cutaneous-leishmaniasis-endemic area of panama.	lutzomyia longipalpis is the primary vector of the parasite responsible for visceral leishmaniasis in the americas. in the present study, lu. longipalpis was found in a domiciliary area in limón, a district in capira, a region in which cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic in panama. previously, this species has been found in a humid forest in this same region. finding lu. longipalpis in domiciliary areas indicates that this species may be adapting to new habitats and that it may play a role in the ...	2011	22241132
assessment of sand fly (diptera, psychodidae) control using cypermethrin in an endemic area for visceral leishmaniasis, montes claros, minas gerais state, brazil.	montes claros in minas gerais state, brazil, was considered an intense transmission area for visceral leishmaniasis. this study evaluated sand fly fauna after insecticide application. captures were performed in 10 districts from september 2005 to august 2006 with cdc light traps inside and outside each residence. cypermethrin was sprayed in two cycles during november/2005 and may/2006. the 636 specimens collected, belonging to 10 species, were predominantly lutzomyia longipalpis (79%), and most ...	2011	22124489
possible implication of the genetic composition of the lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae) populations in the epidemiology of the visceral leishmaniasis.	lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae) is the principal vector of american visceral leishmaniasis. several studies have indicated that the lu. longipalpis population structure is complex. it has been suggested that genetic divergence caused by genetic drift, selection, or both may affect the vectorial capacity of lu. longipalpis. however, it remains unclear whether genetic differences among lu. longipalpis populations are directly implicated in the transmission features of visceral leishma ...	2011	21936320
biotic factors and occurrence of lutzomyia longipalpis in endemic area of visceral leishmaniasis, mato grosso do sul, brazil.	the relationships between environmental exposure to risk agents and health conditions have been studied with the aid of remote sensing imagery, a tool particularly useful in the study of vegetation cover. this study aims to evaluate the influence of environmental variables on the spatial distribution of the abundance of lutzomyia longipalpis and the reported canine and human visceral leishmaniasis (vl) cases at an urban area of campo grande, state of mato grosso do sul. the sandfly captures were ...	2012	22510836
the first record of lutzomyia longipalpis (lutz & neiva, 1912) (diptera: psychodidae: phlebotominae) in the state of paraná, brazil.	we report the first find of lutzomyia longipalpis in the state of paraná, brazil.	2012	23152351
profile and geographic distribution of reported cases of visceral leishmaniasis in campo grande, state of mato grosso do sul, brazil, from 2002 to 2009.	this study sought to describe the profile and geographic distribution of reported cases of visceral leishmaniasis (vl) in the city of campo grande, state of mato grosso do sul (ms), brazil, from 2002 to 2009.	2012	23152344
relationship between digestive enzymes and food habit of lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae) larvae: characterization of carbohydrases and digestion of microorganisms.	the sandfly lutzomyia longipalpis (lutz and neiva, 1912) is the main vector of american visceral leishmaniasis. in spite of its medical importance and several studies concerning adult digestive physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology, very few studies have been carried out to elucidate the digestion in sandfly larvae. even the breeding sites and food sources of these animals in the field are largely uncharacterized. in this paper, we describe and characterize several carbohydrases from th ...	2012	22684112
disruption of the peritrophic matrix by exogenous chitinase feeding reduces fecundity in lutzomyia longipalpis females.	lutzomyia longipalpis is the most important vector of visceral leishmaniasis in brazil. when female sandflies feed on blood, a peritrophic matrix (pm) is formed around the blood bolus. the pm is secreted by midgut cells and composed of proteins, glycoproteins and chitin microfibrils. the pm functions as both a physical barrier against pathogens present in the food bolus and blood meal digestion regulator. previous studies of mosquitoes and sandflies have shown that the absence of a pm, resulting ...	2012	22666867
ecology of phlebotomines (diptera, psychodidae) in rural foci of leishmaniasis in tropical brazil.	this work aimed to study the community structure of sandflies, with regard to the richness, constancy, abundance, and monthly frequency of the species with a focus on the transmission of leishmaniasis.	2012	23295871
sandflies (diptera: psychodidae) from caves of the quartzite espinhaço range, minas gerais, brazil.	this study investigated the sandfly fauna of two quartzite caves in the espinhaço mountain range, located in the municipality of diamantina, state minas gerais. from august 2010-july 2011, entomological sampling was performed in the caves of salitre and monte cristo with two hp light traps exposed in the photic and aphotic zones of each cave. the sandfly fauna consisted of 17 species, among which lutzomyia cipoensis was predominant (54.76%). the male/female ratio in the total captures was 1:2.5. ...	2012	23295752
carbohydrate digestion in lutzomyia longipalpis' larvae (diptera - psychodidae).	lutzomyia longipalpis is the principal species of phlebotomine incriminated as vector of leishmania infantum, the etiological agent of visceral leishmaniasis in the americas. despite its importance as vector, almost nothing related to the larval biology, especially about its digestive system has been published. the objective of the present study was to obtain an overview of carbohydrate digestion by the larvae. taking in account that phlebotomine larvae live in the soil rich in decaying material ...	2012	22841889
ecological aspects of phlebotomines (diptera: psychodidae) in endemic area of visceral leishmaniasis, campo grande, state of mato grosso do sul, brazil.	aspects of phlebotomine behavior were investigated in the city of campo grande, mato grosso do sul state. the insects were captured weekly during december 2003 to november 2005, with centers for disease control light traps at seven different sites including forests and residential areas. in total, 11,024 specimens (7,805 males and 3,219 females) were collected, from which 9,963 (90.38%) were identified as lutzomyia longipalpis, the proven vector of american visceral leishmaniasis agent. the rema ...	2012	22308770
analysis of sandflies (diptera: psychodidae) in barra do garças, state of mato grosso, brazil, and the influence of environmental variables on the vector density of lutzomyia longipalpis (lutz & neiva, 1912).	leishmaniasis is an infectious and parasitic zoonotic, non-contagious, vector-borne disease caused by protozoa of the genus leishmania. in brazil, the major vector of leishmania (leishmania) infantum chagasi (cunha & chagas, 1934) is lutzomyia longipalpis. barra do garças, state of mato grosso, was designated as a priority area by the brazilian ministry of health for american visceral leishmaniasis, and it is important to identify the vector species present in this municipality. our objective wa ...	2012	22760128
lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae: phlebotominae) in the region of saquarema: potential area of visceral leishmaniasis transmission in the state of rio de janeiro, brazil.	lutzomyia longipalpis is the main vector of leishmania infantum chagasi in the americas.	2012	22370841
sandfly fauna in an area endemic for visceral leishmaniasis in aracaju, state of sergipe, northeast brazil.	in recent years, visceral leishmaniasis, a major public health problem, has been spreading from the rural to urban areas in many areas of brazil, including aracaju, the capital of the state of sergipe. however, there are no studies of the sandfly fauna in this municipality or its variation over the year.	2012	22760129
sand fly vectors (diptera, psychodidae) of american visceral leishmaniasis areas in the atlantic forest, state of espírito santo, southeastern brazil.	the aim of this study was to evaluate the sand fly fauna of american visceral leishmaniasis (avl) endemic areas within the central atlantic forest biodiversity corridor, state of espírito santo, southeastern brazil. the sand fly captures were performed between january, 1989 and december, 2003 in localities where autochthonous cases of avl were recorded, as well as in their boundary areas. sand flies were collected from surrounding houses and domestic animal shelters using two to five cdc automat ...	2012	22548541
species diversity of sandflies (diptera: psychodidae) during different seasons and in different environments in the district of taquaruçú, state of tocantins, brazil.	phlebotomine sandflies are the vectors for the protozoan parasites that cause leishmaniasis. the present study investigated the species composition of sandfly fauna in the rural district of taquaruçú, municipality of palmas, state of tocantins, brazil and compared the diversity of species among intradomicile, peridomicile and forest environments during the dry and rainy seasons. sandflies were collected using cdc light traps over the course of three months during the dry and rainy seasons. a tot ...	2012	23147157
phlebotomine sandflies fauna (diptera: psychodidae) at rural settlements in the municipality of cáceres, state of mato grosso, brazil.	leishmaniasis is expanding across brazil, including the state of mato grosso (mt). the aim of this study was to characterize the phlebotomine sandfly fauna at threerural settlements located in the municipality of cáceres, mt, from august 2010 to july 2011.	2012	22836661
lutzomyia longipalpis abundance in the city of posadas, northeastern argentina: variations at different spatial scales.	the distribution of lutzomyia longipalpis is heterogeneous with a pattern of high abundance areas (haas) embedded in a matrix of low abundance areas (laas). the objective of this study was to describe the variability in the abundance of lu. longipalpis at two different spatial levels and to analyse the relationship between the abundance and multiple environmental variables. of the environmental variables analysed in each household, the condition that best explained the differences in vector abun ...	2012	22990967
the distribution pattern of lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae) in the peridomiciles of a sector with canine and human visceral leishmaniasis transmission in the municipality of dracena, são paulo, brazil.	the specimen distribution pattern of a species can be used to characterise a population of interest and also provides area-specific guidance for pest management and control. in the municipality of dracena, in the state of são paulo, we analysed 5,889 lutzomyia longipalpis specimens collected from the peridomiciles of 14 houses in a sector where american visceral leishmaniasis (avl) is transmitted to humans and dogs. the goal was to analyse the dispersion and a theoretical fitting of the species ...	2012	22415253
vaccines for canine leishmaniasis.	leishmaniasis is the third most important vector-borne disease worldwide. visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is a severe and frequently lethal protozoan disease of increasing incidence and severity due to infected human and dog migration, new geographical distribution of the insect due to global warming, coinfection with immunosuppressive diseases, and poverty. the disease is an anthroponosis in india and central africa and a canid zoonosis (zvl) in the americas, the middle east, central asia, china, a ...	2012	22566950
maxadilan prevents apoptosis in ips cells and shows no effects on the pluripotent state or karyotype.	pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (pacap) is a structurally endogenous peptide with many biological roles. maxadilan, a 61-amino acid vasodilatory peptide, specifically activates the pacap type i receptor (pac1). although pac1 has been identified in embryonic stem cells, little is known about its presence or effects in human induced pluripotent stem (ips) cells. in the present study, we investigated the expression of pac1 in human ips cells by reverse transcriptase polymerase ch ...	2012	22457805
the development of psychodiella sergenti (apicomplexa: eugregarinorida) in phlebotomus sergenti (diptera: psychodidae).	psychodiella sergenti is a recently described specific pathogen of the sand fly phlebotomus sergenti, the main vector of leishmania tropica. the aim of this study was to examine the life cycle of ps. sergenti in various developmental stages of the sand fly host. the microscopical methods used include scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and light microscopy of native preparations and histological sections stained with periodic acid-schiff reaction. psychodiella sergenti ...	2012	22313575
the transmission of leishmania infantum chagasi by the bite of the lutzomyia longipalpis to two different vertebrates.	sandflies are vectors of leishmania, the causative agent of leishmaniasis in mammalian hosts, including humans. the protozoan parasite is transmitted by the sandfly bite during salivation that occurs at the moment of blood feeding. the components of vector saliva include anticlotting and vasodilatory factors that facilitate blood flow and immunomodulatory factors that inhibit wound healing and quell the immune response. not surprisingly, these factors also play important roles in the establishme ...	2012	22260275
studies on the feeding habits of lutzomyia (lutzomyia) longipalpis (lutz & neiva, 1912) (diptera: psychodidae: phlebotominae) populations from endemic areas of american visceral leishmaniasis in northeastern brazil.	the aim of this study was to identify potential blood feeding sources of l. (l.) longipalpis specimens from populations in northeastern brazil, endemic areas of american visceral leishmaniasis (avl) and its correlation with the transmission of l. (l.) i. chagasi. the elisa technique was applied using bird, dog, goat, opossum, equine, feline, human, sheep, and rodent antisera to analyze 609 females, resulting in an overall positivity of 60%. in all municipalities, females showed higher positivity ...	2012	22315621
a dysflagellar mutant of leishmania (viannia) braziliensis isolated from a cutaneous leishmaniasis patient.	parasites of the leishmania genus alternate between the flagellated extracellular promastigote stage and intracellular amastigotes. here we report the characterization of a leishmania isolate, obtained from a cutaneous leishmaniasis patient, which presents peculiar morphological features.	2012	22236464
immunity to protozoan parasites.		2012	22619699
efficacy of combined therapy with liposome-encapsulated meglumine antimoniate and allopurinol in treatment of canine visceral leishmaniasis.	an innovative liposomal formulation of meglumine antimoniate (lma) was recently reported to promote both long-term parasite suppression and reduction of infectivity to sand flies in dogs with visceral leishmaniasis. however, 5 months after treatment, parasites were still found in the bone marrow of all treated dogs. in order to improve treatment with lma, the present study aimed to evaluate its efficacy in combination with allopurinol. mongrel dogs naturally infected with leishmania infantum wer ...	2012	22411610
leishmania metacyclogenesis is promoted in the absence of purines.	leishmania parasites, the causative agent of leishmaniasis, are transmitted through the bite of an infected sand fly. leishmania parasites present two basic forms known as promastigote and amastigote which, respectively, parasitizes the vector and the mammalian hosts. infection of the vertebrate host is dependent on the development, in the vector, of metacyclic promastigotes, however, little is known about the factors that trigger metacyclogenesis in leishmania parasites. it has been generally s ...	2012	23050028
parasite burden in hamsters infected with two different strains of leishmania (leishmania) infantum: "leishman donovan units" versus real-time pcr.	to develop and test new therapeutics and immune prophylaxis strategies for visceral leishmaniasis (vl), understanding tissue parasitism evolution after experimental infection with leishmania infantum is important. experimental infection in a hamster model (mesocricetus auratus) reproduces several typical aspects of canine and human vl that are closely related to the inoculum's route. we quantified the parasitism in the liver and spleen of hamsters experimentally infected by various routes (intra ...	2012	23112869
leishmania spp. epidemiology of canine leishmaniasis in the yucatan peninsula.	canine leishmaniasis is widespread in various mexican states, where different species of leishmania have been isolated from dogs. in the present study, we describe the detection of l. braziliensis, l. infantum, and l. mexicana in serum of dogs from the states of yucatan and quintana roo in the yucatan peninsula (mexico). a total of 412 sera were analyzed by elisa using the total extract of the parasite and the iron superoxide dismutase excreted by different trypanosomatids as antigens. we found ...	2012	22927792
cutting edge: brazilian pemphigus foliaceus anti-desmoglein 1 autoantibodies cross-react with sand fly salivary ljm11 antigen.	the environmental factors that contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases are largely unknown. endemic pemphigus foliaceus in humans, known as fogo selvagem (fs) in brazil, is mediated by pathogenic igg4 autoantibodies against desmoglein 1 (dsg1). clusters of fs overlap with those of leishmaniasis, a disease transmitted by sand fly (lutzomyia longipalpis) bites. in this study, we show that salivary ags from the sand fly, and specifically the ljm11 salivary protein, are recognized by fs ...	2012	22798673
immunity to sand fly salivary protein ljm11 modulates host response to vector-transmitted leishmania conferring ulcer-free protection.	leishmania vaccines that protect against needle challenge fail against the potency of a leishmania-infected sand fly transmission. here, we demonstrate that intradermal immunization of mice with 500 ng of the sand fly salivary recombinant protein ljm11 (rljm11) from lutzomyia longipalpis, in the absence of adjuvant, induces long-lasting immunity that results in ulcer-free protection against leishmania major delivered by vector bites. this protection is antibody independent and abrogated by deple ...	2012	22739793
leishmania chagasi in opossums (didelphis albiventris) in an urban area endemic for visceral leishmaniasis, campo grande, mato grosso do sul, brazil.	we investigated the occurrence of leishmania infantum chagasi in didelphis albiventris opossums at a wild animal rehabilitation center in the city of campo grande, brazil. a total of 54 opossums were tested for l. i. chagasi infection in peripheral blood and bone marrow samples. the samples were analyzed by direct examination, culturing in a specific medium, and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. leishmania i. chagasi dna was detected by polymerase chain reaction ...	2012	22802435
preventing zoonotic canine leishmaniasis in northeastern brazil: pet attachment and adoption of community leishmania prevention.	visceral leishmaniasis (vl), caused by leishmania infantum chagasi (l.i. chagasi syn. infantum) in northeastern brazil, was responsible for 51,000 new vl cases from 1980 to 2003. household presence of l. infantum-infected dogs is a major risk factor for human infection. despite culling of dogs based on seropositivity, canine l. infantum seroprevalence remains near 20%, suggesting that dog culling is ineffective for preventing vl spread. we administered a cross-sectional survey to 224 households ...	2012	22987654
performance of lbsap vaccine after intradermal challenge with l. infantum and saliva of lu. longipalpis: immunogenicity and parasitological evaluation.	in the last decade, the search for new vaccines against canine visceral leishmaniasis has intensified. however, the pattern related to immune protection during long periods after experimental infection in vaccine trials is still not fully understood. herein, we investigated the immunogenicity and parasitological levels after intradermal challenge with leishmania infantum plus salivary gland extract in dogs immunized with a vaccine composed of l. braziliensis antigens plus saponin as an adjuvant ...	2012	23189161
the role of leishmania proteophosphoglycans in sand fly transmission and infection of the mammalian host.	leishmania are transmitted by the bite of their sand fly vector and this has a significant influence on the virulence of the resulting infection. from our studies into the interaction between parasite, vector, and host we have uncovered an important missing ingredient during leishmania transmission. leishmania actively adapt their sand fly hosts into efficient vectors by secreting promastigote secretory gel (psg), a proteophosphoglycan (ppg)-rich, mucin-like gel which accumulates in sand fly gut ...	2012	22754550
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 ...	2012	22518168
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 ...	2012	22919650
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 ...	2012	23091196
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 ...	2012	22506098
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 ...	2012	22315620
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 ...	2012	23206339
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 ...	2012	23139741
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 ...	2012	22912862
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 ...	2012	22645126
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.	2012	23226255
salivary gland transcriptomes and proteomes of phlebotomus tobbi and phlebotomus sergenti, vectors of leishmaniasis.	phlebotomus tobbi is a vector of leishmania infantum, and p. sergenti is a vector of leishmania tropica. le. infantum and le. tropica typically cause visceral or cutaneous leishmaniasis, respectively, but le. infantum strains transmitted by p. tobbi can cause cutaneous disease. to better understand the components and possible implications of sand fly saliva in leishmaniasis, the transcriptomes of the salivary glands (sgs) of these two sand fly species were sequenced, characterized and compared.	2012	22629480