[leish-l] Fwd: Articles found by RefScout 2005/10/19 - 2005/42

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    Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2005 04:58:11
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This is RefScout-Newsletter 42/2005.






REQUEST: [ leishmaniasis ]

(14 articles match this request. 1 article matching other requests removed)



PMID: 16143358
 

TITLE: Identification of naturally infected Lutzomyia intermedia and Lutzomyia
migonei with Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
revealed by a PCR multiplex non-isotopic hybridisation assay.

AUTHORS: Daniela de Pita-Pereira, Carlos Roberto Alves, Marcos Barbosa Souza,
Reginaldo Peçanha Brazil, Alvaro Luiz Bertho, André de Figueiredo Barbosa,
Constança Carvalho Britto

AFFILIATION: Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo
Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Pavilhão Leônidas Deane - sala 209, Avenida Brasil 4365, CP
926, Manguinhos, 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

REFERENCE: Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2005 Dec 99(12):905-13

To identify naturally infected Lutzomyia spp. by Leishmania (Viannia) 
braziliensis, a PCR multiplex non-isotopic hybridisation assay was 
developed for the analysis of insect samples collected in distinct areas
 of the municipality of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), from March to December 
2003. Data from experimental infection indicate that the method can 
detect one individual infected insect out of ten. Wild sand flies were 
classified and grouped into pools of 10 specimens each, reaching a total
 of 40 female groups. Positive results were obtained with pools of Lu. 
intermedia (5/32) and Lu. migonei (3/5) collected in two areas from the 
district of Jacarepaguá presenting recent cases of human and canine 
leishmaniasis. Considering eight infected groups (8/40) with at least 
one positive insect in each, it was possible to infer an infection rate 
of 2%. This technique permits the synchronous processing of a large 
number of samples, in order to investigate infection rates in sand fly 
populations and to identify potential insect vectors. The results 
presented here represent the first molecular approach used to infer the 
natural infection index in both Lutzomyia spp. and constitute essential 
data to the understanding of leishmaniasis ecoepidemiology in endemic 
areas from Rio de Janeiro.








PMID: 16054272
 

TITLE: Failure of a multi-subunit recombinant leishmanial vaccine (MML) to
protect dogs from Leishmania infantum infection and to prevent disease
progression in infected animals.

AUTHORS: L Gradoni, V Foglia Manzillo, A Pagano, D Piantedosi, R De Luna, M
Gramiccia, A Scalone, T Di Muccio, G Oliva

AFFILIATION: Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Parassitarie e Immunomediate,
Istituto Superiore di Sanità , Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy.

REFERENCE: Vaccine 2005 Nov 23(45):5245-51

We report results of a Phase III trial of the multi-subunit recombinant 
Leishmania polyprotein MML for the protection of dogs against infection 
by Leishmania infantum. The antigen, also known as Leish-111f, is the 
first antileishmanial human vaccine entered Phase I clinical testing. 
The study was performed in a leishmaniasis endemic area of southern 
Italy. Three groups of 15 Leishmania-free beagle dogs each, received 3 
monthly injections with vaccines A (MML+MPL((R))-SE adjuvant), B (
sterile saline=control) and C (MML+Adjuprime adjuvant), respectively, 
before transmission season 2002. The surviving dogs received a second 
three-dose vaccine course 1 year later. The dogs were naturally exposed 
to sandfly bites for 2.5 months in 2002, and for 5 months in 2003. Every
 2 months post vaccination, dogs were examined by clinical and 
immunological evaluation, and by specific serology, microscopy, culture 
and PCR. A weak lymphoproliferative response to MML was seen in A and C 
groups throughout the study period. One year after the first vaccine 
course, the cumulative incidence of leishmanial infections was 40% in 
group A, 43% in group B and 36% in group C. Two-year post-vaccination (1
 year after the second vaccine course) the cumulative incidence was 87% 
in group A (with three symptomatic cases), 100% in group B (with no 
symptomatic cases) and 100% in group C (with two symptomatic cases). The
 efficacy of the MML vaccine as an immunotherapeutic agent for the 
prevention of disease progression (subpatent infection-->asymptomatic 
patent infection-->symptomatic patent infection) was evaluated through 
follow-up of dogs found infected prior to the second vaccination. Among 
15 infected animals, progression to a subsequent stage of infection was 
found in 5/6 dogs of group A, 3/6 of group B and 2/3 of group C. We 
conclude that vaccination with MML is not effective to prevent 
leishmaniasis infection and disease progression in dogs under field 
conditions.




PMID: 16225635
 

TITLE: Five cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Cambridge, U.K.

AUTHORS: W J Loo, S K Chan, E Rytina, D N J Lockwood, J C Sterling, P Todd

REFERENCE: Br J Dermatol 2005 Nov 153(5):1076-8




PMID: 16226116
 

TITLE: Detection of Leishmania infantum kinetoplast DNA in laryngeal tissue from
an immunocompetent patient.

AUTHORS: Francesca Guddo, Elena Gallo, Enrico Cillari, Anton Maria La Rocca,
Piero Moceo, Kevin Leslie, Thomas Colby, Aroldo G Rizzo

AFFILIATION: Unità Operativa di Anatomia ed Istologia Patologica, Ospedale V.
Cervello, Palermo 90148, Italy.

REFERENCE: Hum Pathol 2005 Oct 36(10):1140-2

Mucosal leishmaniasis of the upper respiratory tract is usually 
associated with the visceral form or is found in immunosuppressed 
individuals. This report presents a case of isolated mucosal 
leishmaniasis in an immunocompetent patient, whose diagnosis mainly 
rested on histology and positive polymerase chain reaction result for 
Leishmania donovani in the laryngeal tissue. A 59-year-old man, who 
never lived outside Italy, showed a subglottic mucosal polypoid-like 
lesion. The typical morphological picture and positive polymerase chain 
reaction result for L donovani by DNA extracted from laryngeal biopsy 
specimens allowed the diagnosis of mucosal leishmaniasis. Specific 
amphotericin B therapy was started, resulting in clinical and endoscopic
 improvement. Increased knowledge about the histological and molecular 
tissue analysis of Leishmania enhances the diagnostic testing for 
mucosal leishmaniasis, as primary mucosal leishmaniasis may occur in 
both immunosuppresed and immunocompetent patients who travel to or 
reside in areas endemic for Leishmania.




PMID: 16222015
 

TITLE: Impact of illness and non-combat injury during operations iraqi freedom
and enduring freedom (afghanistan).

AUTHORS: John W Sanders, Shannon D Putnam, Carla Frankart, Robert W Frenck,
Marshall R Monteville, Mark S Riddle, David M Rockabrand, Trueman W Sharp,
David R Tribble

AFFILIATION: U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3, Cairo, Egypt; U.S. Naval
Medical Research Unit No, 2, Jakarta, Indonesia; U.S. Naval Medical Research
Center, Silver Spring, Maryland.

REFERENCE: Am J Trop Med Hyg 2005 Oct 73(4):713-9

Historically, non-combat injuries and illnesses have had a significant 
impact on military missions. We conducted an anonymous cross-sectional 
survey to assess the prevalence and impact of common ailments among U.S
. military personnel deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan during 2003-2004. 
Among 15,459 persons surveyed, diarrhea (76.8% in Iraq and 54.4% in 
Afghanistan), respiratory illness (69.1%), non-combat injuries (34.7%), 
and leishmaniasis (2.1%) were commonly reported. For all causes, 25.2% 
reported that they required intravenous fluids, 10.4% required 
hospitalization, and 5.2% required medical evacuation. Among ground 
units, 12.7% reported that they missed a patrol because of illness, and 
among air units, 11.7% were grounded because of illness. The incidence 
of diarrhea and respiratory infections doubled from the pre-combat to 
combat phases, and the perceived adverse impact of these illnesses on 
the unit increased significantly during the combat phase. Despite 
technologic advances in warfare and preventive medicine, illness and non
-combat injuries have been common during operations in Iraq and 
Afghanistan, resulting in frequent transient decreases in operational 
efficiency.




PMID: 16131378
 

TITLE: Leishmania inactivation in human pheresis platelets by a psoralen
(amotosalen HCl) and long-wavelength ultraviolet irradiation.

AUTHORS: Richard T Eastman, Lynn K Barrett, Kent Dupuis, Frederick S Buckner,
Wesley C Van Voorhis

AFFILIATION: Departments of Pathobiology and Medicine, University of Washington,
1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.

REFERENCE: Transfusion 2005 Sep 45(9):1459-63

BACKGROUND: Leishmania spp. are protozoans that cause skin and visceral 
diseases. Leishmania are obligate intracellular parasites of mononuclear
 phagocytes and have been documented to be transmitted by blood 
transfusion. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This study examines whether 
Leishmania can be inactivated in human platelet (PLT) concentrates by a 
photochemical treatment process that is applicable to blood bank use. 
Human PLT concentrates were contaminated with Leishmania mexicana 
metacyclic promastigotes or mouse-derived Leishmania major amastigotes 
and were exposed to long-wavelength ultraviolet (UV) A light (320-400 nm
) plus the psoralen amotosalen HCl. RESULTS: Neither treatment with 
amotosalen nor UVA alone had an effect on Leishmania viability; however
, treatment with 150 micromol per L amotosalen plus 3 J per cm(2) UVA 
inactivated both metacyclic promastigotes and amastigotes to 
undetectable levels, more than a 10,000-fold reduction in viability. 
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of photochemical 
treatment to inactivate Leishmania in PLT concentrates intended for 
transfusion. Both metacylic promastigotes, which represent the 
infectious form from the sand fly vector, and amastigotes, which 
represent the form that grows in mononuclear phagocytes, were extremely 
susceptible to photochemical inactivation by this process. Thus, the 
photochemical treatment of PLT concentrates inactivates both forms of 
Leishmania that would be expected to circulate in blood products 
collected from infected donors.








PMID: 16113310
 

TITLE: Transforming growth factor beta 1 production by CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T
cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy subjects stimulated
with Leishmania guyanensis.

AUTHORS: A Kariminia, E Bourreau, H Pascalis, P Couppié, D Sainte-Marie, F
Tacchini-Cottier, P Launois

AFFILIATION: Immunologie des Leishmanioses, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, 97306
Cayenne, French Guyana.

REFERENCE: Infect Immun 2005 Sep 73(9):5908-14

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) has been shown to be a 
central immunomodulator used by leishmaniae to escape effective 
mechanisms of protection in human and murine infections with these 
parasites. However, all the information is derived from studies of 
established infection, while little is known about TGF-beta production 
in response to Leishmania stimulation in healthy subjects. In this study
, TGF-beta1 production was demonstrated in peripheral blood mononuclear 
cells from healthy subjects never exposed to leishmaniae in response to 
live Leishmania guyanensis, and the TGF-beta1-producing cells were 
described as a distinct subpopulation of CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T 
cells. The suppressive properties of CD4(+) CD25(+) T cells were 
demonstrated in vitro by their inhibition of production of interleukin 2
 (IL-2) and IL-10 by CD4(+) CD25(-) T cells in the presence of either 
anti-CD3 or L. guyanensis. Although neutralization of TGF-beta1 did not 
reverse the suppressive activity of CD4(+) CD25(+) T cells activated by 
anti-CD3, it reversed the suppressive activity of CD4(+) CD25(+) T cells
 activated by L. guyanensis. Altogether our data demonstrated that TGF-
beta1 is involved in the suppressive activity of L. guyanensis-
stimulated CD4(+) CD25(+) T cells from healthy controls.




PMID: 16202355
 

TITLE: Cellular immune host response in acute cutaneous leishmaniasis.

AUTHORS: Simeen ber Rahman, Arfan ul Bari

AFFILIATION: Department of Dermatology, Military Hospital, Rawalpindi,
Pakistan.

REFERENCE: J Coll Physicians Surg Pak 2005 Aug 15(8):463-6

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate cellular immune host response in various patterns
 of acute cutaneous leishmaniasis. Design: It was a cross-sectional and 
comparative study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The Armed Forces 
Institute of Pathology (AFIP) and Military Hospital (MH), Rawalpindi 
from 1996 to 1999. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty biopsies of active skin 
lesions after processing were studied for various immunophenotype cells 
by using monoclonal antibodies. Total as well as differential T cell 
counts were recorded in acute single, acute multiple and sporotrichoid 
lesions and in normal skin tissues. Non parametric Kruskal-Wallis Test 
for one way ANOVA was used to compare cell counts in these groups and p-
value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: No significant 
difference was seen in the histopathology, type of infiltrate and the 
ratio between the immune competent cells in acute single or multiple 
lesions. The results of analysis of total cell count, CD3+ cells and 
CD57+ (NK) cells were statistically different (p=<0.05 to p=<0.001
) between acute forms of the disease and normal tissue but no difference
 was seen when acute forms were compared with each other. However, CD4
+, CD8+ and CD19+(Plasma cells) counts difference was significant (p=&lt
;0.05 to p=<0.01), when sporotrichoid lesions were compared with 
other acute lesions (single and multiple). CONCLUSION: The sporotrichoid
 variant of cutaneous leishmaniasis may be due to a different parasite 
species, which provokes a different cellular immune response.




PMID: 16103579
 

TITLE: Observations on "seroepidemiology study of Leishmania infantum infection
in Castilla-Leon, Spain".

AUTHORS: Cristina Riera

REFERENCE: Am J Trop Med Hyg 2005 Aug 73(2):231




PMID: 16199372
 

TITLE: Targeting of mannosylated liposome incorporated benzyl derivative of
Penicillium nigricans derived compound MT81 to reticuloendothelial systems for
the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis.

AUTHORS: Maitreyi Mitra, Ardhendu K Mandal, Tapan Kumar Chatterjee, Nirmalendu
Das

AFFILIATION: Jadavpur University, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology,
Kolkata, 700 032, India.

REFERENCE: J Drug Target 2005 Jun 13(5):285-93

The antileishmanial property of a Benzyl derivative of a new antibiotic 
MT81 (Bz2MT81), isolated and purified from a fungal strain of 
Penicillium nigricans NRRL 917 was tested in free, liposome intercalated
 and mannose coated liposome intercalated forms in vivo against visceral
 leishmaniasis in hamsters. Mannose grafted liposome intercalated 
Bz2MT81 eliminated intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania donovani 
within splenic macrophages more efficiently than the liposome 
intercalated Bz2MT81 or free Bz2MT81. At a dose equivalent to 7.5 microg
/Kg body weight when injected subcutaneously (s.c) in mannose grafted 
liposome intercalated form for 15 days in an interval of three days, the
 splenic parasitic load decreased to the extent of 79.1% of the total 
parasite present in infected control animals. Whereas, an identical 
amount (7.5 mug/Kg body weight) of Bz2MT81 in free or liposome 
intercalated form was found less effective in controlling the parasite 
in spleen (in free Bz2MT81 form, suppression of parasitic load is 49.8% 
and in liposome intercalated form, it is 55.1%). Both mannosylated 
liposomes and Bz2MT81 were noted non-toxic to the host peritoneal 
macrophages. Histological examinations of spleen and liver, kidney 
function tests (SGPT, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine and urea in blood
 plasma) showed that the toxicity of Bz2MT81 was reduced up to normal 
level when mannose grafted liposomal Bz2MT81 were administered.




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PMID: 15516634
 

TITLE: Seroepidemiologic study of Leishmania infantum infection in
Castilla-Leon, Spain.

AUTHORS: José I Garrote, M Purificacion Gutiérrez, Raúl López Izquierdo, M
Ana I Dueñas, Pilar Zarzosa, Carmen Cañavate, M El Bali, Ana Almaraz, Miguel
A Bratos, Clara Berbel, Antonio Rodríguez-Torres, Antonio Orduña Domingo

AFFILIATION: Area de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Avenida Ramon y Cajal
no. 7, 47005 Valladolid, Spain.

REFERENCE: Am J Trop Med Hyg 2004 Oct 71(4):403-6

Leishmaniasis has increased in importance in recent years because 
infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has emerged as a risk 
factor for this disease. However, the actual prevalence of leishmaniasis
 in the general population of Spain is unknown. We present a study of 
the seroprevalence of infection with Leishmania infantum in the general 
population of Castilla-Leon, Spain. A random sample of individuals 
presenting to health care clinics (4,825 sera) and of HIV-infected 
patients in the autonomous community of Castilla-Leon was collected in 
1996. The sero-prevalence of antibodies to L. infantum was determined by
 an indirect enzyme immunoassay and found to be 4.9% in the general 
population. There was a significant increase in seroprevalence with age
 (P = 0.001), from 3.96% in those 14-20 years old to 7.2% in those > 70 
years old. There were no significant differences between women and men (
5.0% versus 4.9%; P = 0.9534). Seroprevalence was significantly higher 
in people from rural areas than in those from cities (6.0% versus 3.4%; 
P = 0.001). Patients infected with HIV had a seroprevalence for L. 
infantum of 64.0%. No differences were observed between women and men, 
and prevalence did not increase with age.








PMID: 2449451
 

TITLE: Serological activity against galactosyl-alpha(1-3)galactose in sera from
patients with several kinetoplastida infections.

AUTHORS: J L Avila, M Rojas, H Towbin

AFFILIATION: Instituto de Biomedicina, Caracás, Venezuela.

REFERENCE: J Clin Microbiol 1988 Jan 26(1):126-32

Using rabbit erythrocyte-derived neutral glycosphingolipids enriched for
 a defined ceramide pentasaccharide as antigens, we have detected 
elevated anti-galactosyl-alpha(1-3)galactose (anti-G alpha G) antibody 
values in patients with American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL), chronic 
Chagas' disease, and Trypanosoma rangeli infections compared with normal
 subjects or with patients suffering from any of 15 other infectious 
diseases. The specificity of the G alpha G antibodies was determined by 
inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, which revealed that 
several alpha-galactosyl- but not beta-galactosyl-bearing sugars blocked
 absorption of G alpha G antibodies to the specific antigen used. G 
alpha G antibodies were mainly distributed between immunoglobulin 
classes G and M in three Kinetoplastida infections studied, with a lower
 increase in reactivity detected in immunoglobulin A. Absorption of 
highly reactive G alpha G antibodies with purified murine laminin and 
nidogen, two basement membrane proteins, almost abolished G alpha G 
reactivity, suggesting the identity of anti-G alpha G with laminin and 
nidogen antibodies previously reported as elevated in Kinetoplastida 
infections. In ACL, G alpha G antibodies were detected in 71% of 
patients having skin lesions with a clinical evolution time of 0.5 month
. This percentage increased with the time of evolution of skin lesions, 
reaching 93% in lesions older than 3 months, and tended to decrease 
inversely to the induration diameter in the skin leishmanin test. It is 
proposed that similar epitopes may exist on kinetoplast protozoa and 
that the determination of G alpha G antibodies may be a highly sensitive
 assay for the detection of humoral responses to Kinetoplastida 
infections.




PMID: 2429987
 

TITLE: Antibodies to basement membrane protein nidogen in Chagas' disease and
American cutaneous leishmaniasis.

AUTHORS: J L Avila, M Rojas, G Velazquez-Avila, H von der Mark, R Timpl

REFERENCE: J Clin Microbiol 1986 Nov 24(5):775-8

About 50 to 70% of sera from patients with American cutaneous 
leishmaniasis and chronic Chagas' disease possessed antibodies which 
reacted in enzyme and radioimmunoassays with nidogen obtained from a 
tumor basement membrane. The antibodies were of the immunoglobulin M and
 G classes in acute American cutaneous leishmaniasis but mainly of the 
immunoglobulin G class in chronic Chagas' disease. Similar antibodies 
could not be detected in patients suffering from a variety of other 
infectious or inflammatory diseases when compared with healthy control 
groups. Inhibition and immunoadsorption studies indicated a close 
relationship of epitopes recognized by patients' antibodies on nidogen 
and on another basement membrane protein, laminin. Since rabbit antisera
 to both proteins do not cross-react, a special nature of the epitopes 
involved in the reaction with patient sera is suggested. Similar 
epitopes may exist on various forms of Leishmania or Trypanosoma 
protozoa.




REQUEST: [ leishmania ]

(15 articles match this request. 6 articles matching other requests removed)



PMID: 16079135
 

TITLE: Biosynthesis of amphotericin derivatives lacking exocyclic carboxyl
groups.

AUTHORS: Maria Carmody, Barry Murphy, Barry Byrne, Patrick Power, Dilip Rai,
Bernard Rawlings, Patrick Caffrey

AFFILIATION: Departments of Industrial Microbiology and Chemistry, Centre for
Synthesis and Chemical Biology, Conway Institute for Biomolecular and
Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.

REFERENCE: J Biol Chem 2005 Oct 280(41):34420-6

Amphotericin B is a medically important antifungal antibiotic that is 
also active against human immunodeficiency virus, Leishmania parasites, 
and prion diseases. The therapeutic use of amphotericin B is restricted 
by severe side effects that can be moderated by liposomal formulation or
 structural alteration. Chemical modification has shown that suppression
 of charge on the exocyclic carboxyl group of amphotericin B 
substantially reduces toxicity. We report targeted deletions of the 
amphN cytochrome P450 gene from the chromosome of the amphotericin-
producing bacterium Streptomyces nodosus. The mutant strains produced 
amphotericin analogues in which methyl groups replace the exocyclic 
carboxyl groups. These compounds retained antifungal activity and had 
reduced hemolytic activity.




PMID: 16105831
 

TITLE: The Translational Efficiencies of the Two Leishmania infantum HSP70
mRNAs, Differing in Their 3'-Untranslated Regions, Are Affected by Shifts in
the Temperature of Growth through Different Mechanisms.

AUTHORS: Cristina Folgueira, Luis Quijada, Manuel Soto, Daniel R Abanades,
Carlos Alonso, Jose M Requena

AFFILIATION: Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autónoma
de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain.

REFERENCE: J Biol Chem 2005 Oct 280(42):35172-83

Exposure of Leishmania promastigotes to the temperature of their 
mammalian hosts induces a typical heat-shock response. In Leishmania 
infantum, HSP70 is encoded by two types of genes that differ in their 3
'-untranslated regions (3'-UTRs). Previously, we have shown that 
specific transcripts for each gene are present in promastigotes growing 
at normal temperature (26 degrees C), but only transcripts with 3'-UTR-
type I (3'-UTRI) accumulate in a temperature-dependent manner. Here, we 
have investigated the translational efficiencies of both types of HSP70 
transcripts at the different temperatures that the parasite encounters 
in the insect (26 degrees C, normal temperature) or in the mammalian 
host (heat-shock temperatures). Interestingly, 3'-UTRI-bearing 
transcripts (HSP70-I) were found associated with ribosomes in 
promastigotes at normal and heat-shock temperatures, whereas the HSP70-
II transcripts appear to be preferentially translated at heat-shock 
temperatures but not at 26 degrees C. We have analyzed the function of 
these UTRs in the translational control by use of plasmid constructs in 
which the CAT reporter gene was flanked by UTRs of the HSP70 genes. 
Unexpectedly, it was found that CAT transcripts with 3'-UTRII bind to 
ribosomes at 26 degrees C, and, indeed, the CAT protein is synthesized. 
A valid conclusion of these experiments was that both types of 3'-UTRs 
are essential for translation of HSP70 mRNAs at heat shock temperatures
, although the 3'-UTRII is more efficient during severe heat shock (39 
degrees C). In addition, these results suggest that sequence region 
other than the 3'-UTR of HSP70-II gene is involved in the translational 
silent state of HSP70-II transcripts at 26 degrees C. Finally, a null 
mutant has been created by targeted disruption of both HSP70-II alleles
. Remarkably, the DeltaHSP70 mutant synthesizes HSP70 at a lower rate 
than the wild-type parasites. Overall, our data suggest that the 
biological function of the HSP70-II gene is to top up HSP70 levels under
 conditions of stress.




PMID: 16115874
 

TITLE: Distinct 3'-Untranslated Region Elements Regulate Stage-specific mRNA
Accumulation and Translation in Leishmania.

AUTHORS: François McNicoll, Michaela Müller, Serge Cloutier, Nathalie Boilard,
Annie Rochette, Marthe Dubé, Barbara Papadopoulou

AFFILIATION: Infectious Diseases Research Center, Centre Hospitalier de
l'Université Laval Research Center of Laval University and Department of
Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec G1V 4G2,
Canada.

REFERENCE: J Biol Chem 2005 Oct 280(42):35238-46

We recently characterized a large developmentally regulated gene family 
in Leishmania encoding the amastin surface proteins. While studying the 
regulation of these genes, we identified a region of 770 nucleotides (nt
) within the 2055-nt 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) that regulates 
stage-specific gene expression at the level of translation. An 
intriguing feature of this 3'-UTR regulatory region is the presence of a
 approximately 450-nt element that is highly conserved among several 
Leishmania mRNAs. Here we show, using a luciferase reporter system and 
polysome profiling experiments, that the 450-nt element stimulates 
translation initiation of the amastin mRNA in response to heat shock, 
which is the main environmental change that the parasite encounters upon
 its entry into the mammalian host. Deletional analyses depicted a 
second region of approximately 100 nucleotides located at the 3'-end of 
several amastin transcripts, which also activates translation in 
response to elevated temperature. Both 3'-UTR regulatory elements act in
 an additive manner to stimulate amastin mRNA translation. In addition, 
we show that acidic pH encountered in the phagolysosomes of macrophages
, the location of parasitic differentiation, triggers the accumulation 
of amastin transcripts by a distinct mechanism that is independent of 
the 450-nt and 100-nt elements. Overall, these important findings 
support the notion that stage-specific post-transcriptional regulation 
of the amastin mRNAs in Leishmania is complex and involves the 
coordination of distinct mechanisms controlling mRNA stability and 
translation that are independently triggered by key environmental 
signals inducing differentiation of the parasite within macrophages.








PMID: 16212802
 

TITLE: Phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) of the Atlantic forest in
Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil: the species coming to human bait, and their
seasonal and monthly variations over a 2-year period.

AUTHORS: V Q Balbino, I V Coutinho-Abreu, I V Sonoda, W Marques da Silva, C B
Marcondes

AFFILIATION: Department of Genetics, Federal University of Pernambuco, 50732-970
Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.

REFERENCE: Ann Trop Med Parasitol 2005 Oct 99(7):683-93

In a study of the phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in a 
forest reserve in Recife, Pernambuco state, north-eastern Brazil, the 
sandflies landing on human bait between 1.00 and 1.42 h after sunset 
were collected weekly for 2 years. Although 10,287 sandflies of 10 
Lutzomyia species were collected, almost all (96.5%) of the sandflies 
caught were Lu. umbratilis. This species and several others caught are 
potential vectors of some of the Leishmania parasites that cause human 
disease. The recorded landing rate for Lu. umbratilis peaked, at the 
high level of 333.3 flies/person-hour, during the collections made in 
May 2003.The relative rarity in the collections of males of some of the 
species caught probably indicates that these species do not lek on their
 bloodmeal sources.It is likely that the sizes of the local populations 
of species that are not very anthrophilic, such as Lu. flaviscutellata, 
are much larger than indicated by the collections made on human bait.




PMID: 16218213
 

TITLE: Antileishmanial activity of polycyclic derivatives.

AUTHORS: M E Sarciron, R Terreux, Y Prieto, M Cortes, M A Cuellar, R A Tapia, M
Domard, N Walchshofer, A F Pétavy

AFFILIATION: Department of Parasitology and Medical Mycology, EA3741, Claude
Bernard University, Lyon, France. sarciron at univ-lyon1.fr

REFERENCE: Parasite 2005 Sep 12(3):251-8

33 polycyclic derivatives have been studied and tested on Leishmania 
donovani and L. major promastigotes. Their antileishmanial activity was 
assessed in vitro and an assay of their cytotoxicity was realized on 
human myelomonocytic cell line. The reference molecules used in the 
assays were amphotericin B and pentamidine. Among the compounds tested, 
29 possess an antileishmanial activity; 25 of those were more active 
against L. donovani than amphotericin B, and nine were as effective as 
amphotericin B against L. major. Many synthesized derivatives were more 
active against L. donovani than against L. major. The cytotoxicity 
studies have shown that among the thirty-three derivatives tested, 12 
molecules have an IC50 towards THP-1 cells about equal than that 
reference drugs, the 21 other derivatives are much less toxic. A 3D QSAR
 study was undertaken and has permitted to predict activity against L. 
donovani and L. major and to highlight critical area to optimize 
activity against the two species.




PMID: 16218216
 

TITLE: Leishmaniosis due to Leishmania infantum in a FIV and FelV positive cat
with a squamous cell carcinoma diagnosed with histological, serological and
isoenzymatic methods.

AUTHORS: A Grevot, P Jaussaud Hugues, P Marty, F Pratlong, C Ozon, P Haas, C
Breton, G Bourdoiseau

AFFILIATION: Ecole nationale vétérinaire de Lyon, Laboratoire de
parasitologie, Marcy l'Etoile, France.

REFERENCE: Parasite 2005 Sep 12(3):271-5

Leishmaniosis caused by Leishmania infantum is an endemic zoonosis 
present in the Mediterranean area. Canidae (dog and fox) constitute the 
main reservoir hosts for the parasite, whilst wild rodents or the cat 
can be carriers of the protozoan and are considered as secondary 
potential reservoirs. This paper describes a case of disseminated feline
 leishmaniosis with cutaneous (ulcerative), visceral (spleen and lymph 
nodes) and blood involvement in a FIV-FelV positive cat. The microscopic
 identification of the Leishmania infection was initially made on a skin
 biopsy of the temporal area, where a squamous cell carcinoma was 
diagnosed. The diagnosis of the disease was achieved by several 
serological techniques (ELISA, IFAT and Western-blot). The strain was 
obtained by blood culture, characterized by electrophoresis of 
isoenzymes and identified as Leishmania infantum zymodeme MON-1. Since 
the infection due to L. infantum is a zoonosis, the potential feline 
reservoir should be more investigated. Serological analysis by Western 
blot on domestic cats provides a useful tool. In veterinary practice, 
feline leishmaniosis should be systematically included in the 
differential diagnosis when compatible cutaneous lesions are present, 
especially in the endemic areas of canine leishmaniosis.




PMID: 16103587
 

TITLE: Detection of leishmanial antigen in the urine of patients with visceral
leishmaniasis by a latex agglutination test.

AUTHORS: Shyam Sundar, Shrinkhla Agrawal, Kalpana Pai, Michael Chance, Marcel
Hommel

AFFILIATION: Kala-Azar Medical Research Center, Department of Medicine,
Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
shyam_vns at satyam.net.in

REFERENCE: Am J Trop Med Hyg 2005 Aug 73(2):269-71

Diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is usually done by 
demonstration of parasites in tissue smears. However, obtaining these 
smears may be risky, painful, and difficult. Antibody-based diagnostics 
are limited by their inability to predict active disease. In this study
, a new latex agglutination test (KAtex), which detects parasite antigen
 in freshly voided and boiled urine, was evaluated in patients with VL 
before the start (n = 382) and at the end of treatment (n = 273); 185 
healthy controls from leishmaniasis-endemic region were also studied. 
The KAtex result was positive in 87% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 83.
3-90.3). However, at the end of treatment only 3% (95% CI = 1.6-6.2) 
patients were positive. The specificity of the test was 99% and 2 of 185
 healthy controls tested positive. Positive and negative predictive 
values were 0.994 and 0.788, respectively. KAtex is a promising test, 
and in a simplified and improved format it could be applied meaningfully
 in the diagnosis of VL.




PMID: 16103589
 

TITLE: The value of a new microculture method for diagnosis of visceral
leishmaniasis by using bone marrow and peripheral blood.

AUTHORS: Adil M Allahverdiyev, Malahat Bagirova, Soner Uzun, Derya Alabaz, Necmi
Aksaray, Emine Kocabas, Fatih Koksal

AFFILIATION: Cukurova University, Tropical Diseases Research Centre, Adana,
Turkey. yay at cu.edu.tr

REFERENCE: Am J Trop Med Hyg 2005 Aug 73(2):276-80

We have demonstrated that the microculture method (MCM) enables the 
diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) with samples from both the bone
 marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB). The MCM is superior to the 
traditional culture method (TCM) as determined by its higher sensitivity
 in the detection of promastigotes and the more rapid time for emergence
 of promastigotes. The sensitivity of MCM (100% in BMs and 77.8-100% in 
PB) was considerably higher than that of the TCM (37.5-100% in BMs and 0
-100% in PB) according to decreasing parasite density (P < 0.05). The
 concentration of parasites in buffy coats has increased the sensitivity
 of both methods, especially that of the MCM. Detection of promastigotes
 by MCM requires lower amounts of culture media (25-50 microL) and 
shorter incubation periods (2-7 days) than TCM (2.5-3.5 mL and 15-35 
days, respectively). MCM was found to be valuable with the advantages of
 simplicity and sensitivity, in addition to being cost-effective in the 
routine diagnosis for VL in Adana Turkey.




PMID: 16207086
 

TITLE: Identification and partial characterization of two eukaryotic
UDP-galactopyranose mutases.

AUTHORS: Hans Bakker, Barbara Kleczka, Rita Gerardy-Schahn, Françoise H
Routier

AFFILIATION: Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg Strasse 1, D-30625
Hannover, Germany.

REFERENCE: Biol Chem 2005 Jul 386(7):657-61

Galactofuranose metabolism is valued as an important target for the 
development of new antituberculosis drugs. UDP-galactopyranose mutase, a
 central enzyme in galactofuranose biosynthesis, is essential for the 
growth and viability of mycobacteria. This enzyme catalyzes the 
conversion of UDP-galactopyranose into UDP-galactofuranose, the donor 
used by various galacto-furanosyltransferases. While D-galactofuranose 
residues are often found in important surface glycoconjugates of 
pathogenic bacteria, fungi and protozoan parasites, they are absent in 
the mammalian host, and thus their biosynthesis is an attractive target 
for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. In contrast to 
mycobacteria, the importance of galactofuranose for eukaryotic pathogens
 has not been ascertained because the enzymes involved in 
galactofuranose metabolism are unknown. Here, we report the 
identification and characterization of the first eukaryotic UDP-
galactopyranose mutases. The genes encoding the enzymes were cloned from
 two different human pathogens: the parasite Leishmania major and the 
opportunistic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. The newly identified 
eukaryotic enzymes exhibit 51% sequence identity, but are less than 20% 
identical to the prokaryotic counterparts. The sequence identity between
 pro- and eukaryotic enzymes is concentrated at amino acid residues that
 are involved in substrate and cofactor binding. Therefore, an inhibitor
 of UDP-galactopyranose mutase might be effective against a wide range 
of pathogenic organisms.




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