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This is RefScout-Newsletter 34/2006.<br><br>
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REQUEST: [ leishmania ]<br>
(23 articles match this request)<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2006-34.xml&id=16716519" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">16716519</a>
<input name="id_16716519" value="Y" type="checkbox"><br>
TITLE: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16716519" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">An atypical case of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in a young English Mastiff.
</a><br>
AUTHORS: M B Nabity, K Barnhart, K S Logan, R L Santos, A Kessell, C Melmed, K F Snowden<br>
AFFILIATION: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of
Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University,
College Station, TX 77843, United States.<br>
REFERENCE: Vet Parasitol 2006 Sep 140(3-4):356-61<br>
A case of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in a young English Mastiff from
Texas is presented. Clinical signs and laboratory findings included
subcutaneous edema, lymphadenopathy, weight loss, and hypoalbuminemia.
Cytology of a lymph node revealed numerous amastigotes. No
trypomastigotes were observed in buffy coat preparation of peripheral
blood, and on histologic evaluation, most organs contained numerous
interstitial pseudocysts. Initial serology was positive for both T.
cruzi and <b>Leishmania</b>, and immunohistochemistry supported a diagnosis of
<b>Leishmania</b>. However, additional serology supported a T. cruzi infection
, and cultivation of organisms isolated from a lymph node revealed
morphology consistent with T. cruzi. In addition, PCR analysis resulted
in a 504bp fragment with 99% homology to a flagellar protein of T. cruzi
. Although uncommon, autochthonous cases of both T. cruzi and <b>Leishmania</b>
have been reported in the United States. Clinical signs observed with
both diseases can show many similarities, cytology may be
indistinguishable, as in this case, and serological cross-reactivity is
common. This case demonstrates an unusual presentation of T. cruzi and
the use of multiple testing strategies to support its diagnosis.<br>
<br><br>
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PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2006-34.xml&id=16914648" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">16914648</a>
<input name="id_16914648" value="Y" type="checkbox"><br>
TITLE: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16914648" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">{beta}-Mercaptoethanol-modified ELISA for diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis.
</a><br>
AUTHORS: Elfadil M Abass, Durria Mansour, Mohamed El Mutasim, Muna Hussein, Abdallah El Harith<br>
AFFILIATION: 1Ahfad University for Women, PO Box 167, Omdurman, Sudan.<br>
REFERENCE: J Med Microbiol 2006 Sep 55(Pt 9):1193-6<br>
Following antigen preparation procedures similar to those of the direct
agglutination test (DAT), an IgG ELISA employing intact beta-
mercaptoethanol (beta-ME)-treated <b>Leishmania</b> donovani promastigotes was
developed. The performance of the beta-ME ELISA thus developed was
assessed in patients with confirmed visceral leishmaniasis (VL),
revealing slightly lower sensitivity (39/40=97.5 %) than that of the DAT
(40/40=100 %). When challenged with sera of individuals with non-VL
conditions, including leukaemia and African trypanosomiasis, the
specificity of the beta-ME ELISA was 100 % (158/158), compared to 98.8
% (156/158) for DAT. In an endemic population (n=145) manifesting a
clinical suspicion of VL, results obtained with the beta-ME ELISA were
highly concordant with those of DAT, both in the seropositive (65/68=95.
6 %) and seronegative (77/80=96.3 %) groups. Furthermore, the
incorporated intact antigen demonstrated higher sensitivity in ELISA (16
/18=88.9 %) than the water-soluble equivalent (13/18=72.2 %). The
stability of the formaldehyde-fixed antigen (2 months at 4 degrees C) in
beta-ME ELISA, as well as the option for direct testing of whole-blood
samples and visual reading of results (within 2 h, compared to 18 h for
DAT), advocate the simultaneous application of the technique with DAT
for confirmation of VL in laboratories with limited facilities.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2006-34.xml&id=16780497" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">16780497</a>
<input name="id_16780497" value="Y" type="checkbox"><br>
TITLE: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16780497" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Comparison
between the efficacy of photodynamic therapy and topical paromomycin in
the treatment of Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis: a
placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial.</a><br>
AUTHORS: A Asilian, M Davami<br>
AFFILIATION: Department of Dermatology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.<br>
REFERENCE: Clin Exp Dermatol 2006 Sep 31(5):634-7<br>
BACKGROUND: The optimal treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is
not known. Topical paromomycin is one of the many drugs that have been
suggested for the treatment of CL caused by <b>Leishmania</b> major. Recently,
topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been reported to be effective in
the treatment of CL. AIMS: To compare the parasitological and clinical
efficacy of PDT vs. topical paromomycin in patients with Old World CL
caused by L. major in Iran. METHODS: In this trial, 60 patients with the
clinical and parasitological diagnosis of CL were recruited and were
randomly divided into three treatment groups of 20 subjects each. Group
1 was treated with weekly topical PDT, and groups 2 and 3 received twice
-daily topical paromomycin and placebo, respectively. The duration of
treatment was 4 weeks for all groups. These groups were followed for 2
months after the end of treatment. RESULTS: In total, 57 patients with
95 lesions completed the study. At the end of the study, complete
improvement was seen in 29 of 31 (93.5%), 14 of 34 (41.2%) and 4 of 30
lesions (13.3%) in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively (P<0.001). At the
same time point, 100%, 64.7% and 20% of the lesions had parasitological
cure in group 1, 2 and 3, respectively (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Topical
PDT can be used safely as a rapid and highly effective alternative
treatment choice for Old World CL in selected patients.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2006-34.xml&id=16914726" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">16914726</a>
<input name="id_16914726" value="Y" type="checkbox"><br>
TITLE: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16914726" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Generation and Characterization of B7-H4/B7S1/B7x-Deficient Mice.
</a><br>
AUTHORS: Woong-Kyung Suh, Seng Wang, Gordon S Duncan, Yoshiyuki
Miyazaki, Elizabeth Cates, Tina Walker, Beata U Gajewska, Elissa
Deenick, Wojciech Dawicki, Hitoshi Okada, Andrew Wakeham, Annick Itie,
Tania H Watts, Pamela S Ohashi, Manel Jordana, Hiroki Yoshida, Tak W Mak<br>
AFFILIATION: Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, 620
University Ave., Suite 706, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 2C1. <a href="mailto:tmak@uhnres.utoronto.ca" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">tmak@uhnres.utoronto.ca</a>.<br>
REFERENCE: Mol Cell Biol 2006 Sep 26(17):6403-11<br>
Members of the B7 family of cosignaling molecules regulate T-cell
proliferation and effector functions by engaging cognate receptors on T
cells. In vitro and in vivo blockade experiments indicated that B7-H4 (
also known as B7S1 or B7x) inhibits proliferation, cytokine production,
and cytotoxicity of T cells. B7-H4 binds to an unknown receptor(s) that
is expressed on activated T cells. However, whether B7-H4 plays
nonredundant immune regulatory roles in vivo has not been tested. We
generated B7-H4-deficient mice to investigate the roles of B7-H4 during
various immune reactions. Consistent with its inhibitory function in
vitro, B7-H4-deficient mice mounted mildly augmented T-helper 1 (Th1)
responses and displayed slightly lowered parasite burdens upon
<b>Leishmania</b> major infection compared to the wild-type mice. However, the
lack of B7-H4 did not affect hypersensitive inflammatory responses in
the airway or skin that are induced by either Th1 or Th2 cells. Likewise
, B7-H4-deficient mice developed normal cytotoxic T-lymphocyte reactions
against viral infection. Thus, B7-H4 plays a negative regulatory role
in vivo but the impact of B7-H4 deficiency is minimal. These results
suggest that B7-H4 is one of multiple negative cosignaling molecules
that collectively provide a fine-tuning mechanism for T-cell-mediated
immune responses.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2006-34.xml&id=16909466" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">16909466</a>
<input name="id_16909466" value="Y" type="checkbox"><br>
TITLE: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16909466" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Demonstration
of a new biosensing concept for immunodiagnostic applications based on
change in surface conductance of antibodies after biomolecular
interactions.</a><br>
AUTHORS: Sandeep Kumar Vashist, Inderpreet Kaur, Ram Prakash Bajpai, Lalit Mohan Bharadwaj, Rupinder Tewari, Roberto Raiteri<br>
AFFILIATION: Department of Biophysical and Electronic Engineering, University of Genoa, via Opera Pia 11A, Genoa-16145, Italy; <a href="mailto:s.vashist@dibe.unige.it" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
s.vashist@dibe.unige.it</a>.<br>
REFERENCE: J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2006 Sep 7(9):683-5<br>
We report an important observation that the surface conductivity of
antibody layer immobilized on polylysine-coated glass substrate
decreases upon the formation of complex with their specific antigens.
This change in conductivity has been observed for both monoclonal and
polyclonal antibodies. The conductance of monoclonal mouse IgG
immobilized on polylysine-coated glass substrate changed from 1.02x10(-8
) ohm(-1) to 1.41x10(-11) ohm(-1) at 10 V when complex is formed due to
the specific biomolecular interactions with rabbit anti-mouse IgG F(ab
')(2). Similar behavior was observed when the same set up was tested in
two clinical assays: (1) anti-<b>Leishmania</b> antigen polyclonal antibodies
taken from Kala Azar positive patient serum interacting with <b>Leishmania</b>
promastigote antigen, and (2) anti-p21 polyclonal antibodies interacting
with p21 antigen. The proposed concept can represent a new
immunodiagnostic technique and may have wide ranging applications in
biosensors and nanobiotechnology too.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2006-34.xml&id=16753168" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">16753168</a>
<input name="id_16753168" value="Y" type="checkbox"><br>
TITLE: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16753168" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">A non-universal transcription factor? The
<b>Leishmania</b> tarentolae TATA box-binding protein LtTBP associates with a subset of promoters.</a><br>
AUTHORS: Sean Thomas, Michael C Yu, Nancy R Sturm, David A Campbell<br>
AFFILIATION: Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, 609
Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1489, USA.<br>
REFERENCE: Int J Parasitol 2006 Sep 36(10-11):1217-26<br>
In kinetoplastids a 39-nucleotide spliced leader RNA is trans-spliced to
the 5' end of nuclear mRNAs before they can be translated, thus the
spliced leader is central to gene expression in kinetoplastid biology.
The spliced leader RNA genes in <b>Leishmania</b> tarentolae contain promoters
with important sites at approximately -60 and -30. A complex forms
specifically on the -60 element as shown by electrophoretic mobility
shift. The -60 shift complex has an estimated mass of 159kDa. An L.
tarentolae homologue of TATA-binding protein, LtTBP, co-fractionates
with the -60 shift complex. Inclusion of anti-LtTBP antiserum in the
shift assay disrupts the shift, indicating that LtTBP is a component of
the complex that interacts with the TATA-less -60 element of the spliced
leader RNA gene promoter. Both LtTBP and LtSNAP(50) are found near the
spliced leader RNA gene promoter and the promoters important for tRNA(
Ala) and/or U2 snRNA gene transcription, as demonstrated by chromatin
immunoprecipitation. The LtTBP appears to interact with a subset of
promoters in kinetoplastids with an affinity for short transcription
units.<br>
<br><br>
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PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2006-34.xml&id=16920959" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">16920959</a>
<input name="id_16920959" value="Y" type="checkbox"><br>
TITLE: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16920959" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Leukotrienes Are Essential for the Control of
<b>Leishmania</b> amazonensis Infection and Contribute to Strain Variation in Susceptibility.</a><br>
AUTHORS: Carlos H Serezani, Joao H Perrela, Momtchilo Russo, Marc Peters-Golden, Sonia Jancar<br>
AFFILIATION: Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Science IV, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.<br>
REFERENCE: J Immunol 2006 Sep 177(5):3201-8<br>
Leukotrienes (LTs) are known to be produced by macrophages when
challenged with <b>Leishmania</b>, but it is not known whether these lipid
mediators play a role in host defense against this important protozoan
parasite. In this study, we investigated the involvement of LTs in the
in vitro and in vivo response to <b>Leishmania</b> amazonensis infection in
susceptible (BALB/c) and resistant (C3H/HePAS) mice. Pharmacologic or
genetic deficiency of LTs resulted in impaired leishmanicidal activity
of peritoneal macrophages in vitro. In contrast, addition of LTB(4)
increased leishmanicidal activity and this effect was dependent on the
BLT1 receptor. LTB(4) augmented NO production in response to L.
amazonensis challenge, and studies with a NO synthesis inhibitor
revealed that NO was critical for the enhancement of macrophage
leishmanicidal activity. Interestingly, macrophages from resistant mice
produced higher levels of LTB(4) upon L. amazonensis challenge than did
those from susceptible mice. In vivo infection severity, as assessed by
footpad swelling following s.c. promastigote inoculation, was increased
when endogenous LT synthesis was abrogated either pharmacologically or
genetically. Taken together, these results for the first time reveal an
important role for LTB(4) in the protective response to L. amazonensis,
identify relevant leishmanicidal mechanisms, and suggest that genetic
variation in LTB(4) synthesis might influence resistance and
susceptibility patterns to infection.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2006-34.xml&id=16920512" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">16920512</a>
<input name="id_16920512" value="Y" type="checkbox"><br>
TITLE: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16920512" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Nitric oxide synthase and cytokines gene expression analyses in
<b>Leishmania</b>-infected RAW 264.7 cells treated with an extract of Pelargonium sidoides (Eps((R)) 7630).</a><br>
AUTHORS: W Trun, A F Kiderlen, H Kolodziej<br>
AFFILIATION: Institut für Pharmazie, Pharmazeutische Biologie, Freie
Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise- Str. 2+4, D-14195 Berlin, Germany.<br>
REFERENCE: Phytomedicine 2006 Sep 13(8):570-5<br>
A modern aqueous-ethanolic formulation of the roots of Pelargonium
sidoides (Eps((R)) 7630), elaborated from the traditional herbal
medicine used in areas of southern Africa, is effectively employed for
the treatment of ENT and respiratory tract infections in modern
phytotherapy. Previous studies have demonstrated antibacterial and
immunomodulatory activities. To gain insight into the mode of action at
the molecular level, gene expression analyses for the inducible nitric
oxide synthase and the cytokines interleukin (IL)-1, IL-12, IL-18,
tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interferon (IFN)-alpha, and IFN-
gamma, were performed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain
reaction (RT-PCR). The experiments were carried out in parallel in non-
infected and in <b>Leishmania</b> major-infected RAW 264.7 cells and the
expression profiles were compared with those mediated by IFN-gamma+LPS.
Eps((R)) 7630 induced low mRNA levels in non-infected cells, and it
considerably up-regulated the transcript expressions in parasitised
cells. Interestingly, and in contrast to activation by IFN-gamma+LPS,
Eps((R)) 7630 also stimulated infected cells to produce IFN-gamma mRNA.
A similar expression profile was observed for the methanol-insoluble
fraction (MIF) of Eps((R)) 7630 and gallic acid, a trace constituent of
the extract, while the methanol-soluble fraction and umckalin, an
exclusive and representative member of the occurring coumarins, proved
to be devoid of any remarkable gene-inducing capabilities. The present
results provide not only convincing support for the improvement of
immune functions as previously demonstrated in functional bioassays, but
also evidence for activation at the transcriptional level and suggest
that the underlying inducing principle is located in the MIF.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2006-34.xml&id=16682124" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">16682124</a>
<input name="id_16682124" value="Y" type="checkbox"><br>
TITLE: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16682124" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Use of PCR-RFLP to identify
<b>Leishmania</b> species in naturally-infected dogs.</a><br>
AUTHORS: Hélida Monteiro de Andrade, Alexandre Barbosa Reis, Sara
Lopes Dos Santos, Angela Cristina Volpini, Marcos José Marques, Alvaro
José Romanha<br>
AFFILIATION: Centro de Pesquisa René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.<br>
REFERENCE: Vet Parasitol 2006 Sep 140(3-4):231-8<br>
Tissue imprints on Giemsa stained slides from dogs were used to
investigate the presence of <b>Leishmania</b> amastigotes by either optical
microscopy (OM) or Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of DNA.
Samples from skin, spleen, lymph node, liver and bone marrow from a
Leishmaniasis endemic area dogs where <b>Leishmania</b> (<b>Leishmania</b>) chagasi
and <b>Leishmania</b> (Viannia) braziliensis are sympatric were studied. Dogs
were initially diagnosed by Indirect Immunofluorescence (IIF), as which
39 were IIF positive (>/=1:40) and 16 negative. The IIF positive dogs
were clinically grouped as symptomatic (n=15), oligosymptomatic (n=12)
and asymptomatic (n=12). Although PCR positivity was higher in
symptomatic dogs, specially their skin samples, there was no significant
difference among clinical groups or organs examined. Ten (62.5%) out of
16 IIF and OM negative animals were positive for PCR in at least one
organ. Forty-eight positive PCR amplicons were further submitted to RFLP
for <b>Leishmania</b> identification. All dogs were infected with L. (L.)
chagasi except one, infected with L. (V.) braziliensis. PCR was more
efficient than IIF and OM to diagnose canine visceral Leishmaniasis (CVL
), regardless of the organ examined and the clinical form present. The
use of PCR together with serology helps determining the extension of sub
clinical infection in CVL endemic areas and provides a better estimate
of the number of dogs to be targeted for control measures. In conclusion
, our data reinforce the need for a specific diagnosis of canine
infection in areas where diverse <b>Leishmania</b> species are sympatric and
demonstrate that PCR-RFLP can be used to identify <b>Leishmania</b> species in
dog tissue imprint stained slides.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2006-34.xml&id=16918490" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">16918490</a>
<input name="id_16918490" value="Y" type="checkbox"><br>
TITLE: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16918490" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">In Vivo Induced Antigen Technology (IVIAT) and Change Mediated Antigen Technology (CMAT).
</a><br>
AUTHORS: Martin Handfield, Jeffrey D Hillman<br>
AFFILIATION: Center for Molecular Microbiology & Department of Oral
Biology, Box 100424 JHMHSC, University of Florida, Gainesville FL
32610-0424. <a href="mailto:mhandfield@dental.ufl.edu" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">mhandfield@dental.ufl.edu</a>.<br>
REFERENCE: Infect Disord Drug Targets 2006 Aug 6(3):327-34<br>
In this chapter, an overview of in vivo induced antigen technology (
IVIAT) and change mediated antigen technology (CMAT) will be presented,
including a discussion of the advantages and limitations of these
methods. Over fifteen different microbial pathogens have been or are
known to be currently studied with these methods. Salient data obtained
from the application of IVIAT and/or CMAT to a selection of human and
plant pathogens will be summarized. This includes recent reports on
Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A) in neurological disorders and invasive
diseases, Xylella fastidiosa in Pierce's disease, Xanthomonas campestris
in bean blight, Salmonella enterica serovar typhi in typhoid fever and
<b>Leishmania</b> spp. related infections. Special emphasis will be given to
those targets that have been further investigated for the development of
novel vaccine, diagnostic and/or antibiotherapy strategies. This
encompasses a new point-of-care serological diagnostic test for chronic
periodontal diseases. Finally, Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vivo
induced products will be described as providing a rational basis for
differentiating subjects with primary, dormant or secondary tuberculosis
infections, from control subjects who have or did not have prior
vaccination with BCG.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2006-34.xml&id=16913711" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">16913711</a>
<input name="id_16913711" value="Y" type="checkbox"><br>
TITLE: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16913711" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Binding and Interaction of Dinitroanilines with Apicomplexan and Kinetoplastid alpha-Tubulin.
</a><br>
AUTHORS: Arpita Mitra, David Sept<br>
AFFILIATION: Department of Chemical Engineering, Center for
Computational Biology, and Department of Biomedical Engineering,
Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130-4899.<br>
REFERENCE: J Med Chem 2006 Aug 49(17):5226-31<br>
Despite years of use as commercial herbicides, it is still unclear how
dinitroanilines interact with tubulin, how they cause microtubule
disassembly, and why they are selectively active against plant and
protozoan tubulin. In this work, through a series of computational
studies, a common binding site of oryzalin, trifluralin, and GB-II-5 on
apicomplexan and kinetoplastid alpha-tubulin is proposed. Furthermore,
to investigate how dinitroanilines affect tubulin dynamics, molecular
dynamics simulations of <b>Leishmania</b> alpha-tubulin with and without a
bound dinitroaniline are performed. The results obtained provide insight
into the molecular mechanism by which these compounds interact with
tubulin and function to prevent microtubule assembly. Finally, to aid in
the design of effective parasitic microtubule inhibitors, several novel
dinitroaniline analogues are evaluated. The location of the binding
site and the relative binding affinities of the dinitroanilines all
agree well with experimental data.<br>
<br><br>
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PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2006-34.xml&id=16907963" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">16907963</a>
<input name="id_16907963" value="Y" type="checkbox"><br>
TITLE: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16907963" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Incidences of canine leishmaniasis in an endemic area of southern Italy.
</a><br>
AUTHORS: P Paradies, G Capelli, C Cafarchia, D de Caprariis, M Sasanelli, D Otranto<br>
AFFILIATION: Department of Animal Health and Welfare, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Italy.<br>
REFERENCE: J Vet Med B Infect Dis Vet Public Health 2006 Aug 53(6):295-8<br>
Canine leishmaniasis (CanL), caused by <b>Leishmania</b> infantum, is widely
distributed in many Mediterranean countries and is considered endemic in
southern and central Italy with prevalence reaching up to 48.4%.
Determination of the incidence would be useful as a measure of the risk
of infection, then to evaluate the usefulness of control measures and to
estimate whether a new focus is autochthonous or imported. This study
was performed on two sites in the Apulia region of southern Italy,
namely sites A and B. A total of 262 dogs were included in the
evaluation of incidence, 94 farm dogs from site A and 168 dogs (92 farm
and 76 kennel dogs) from site B. The incidence of infection was
determined by using two different approaches: in site A by means of
incidence density rate (IDR); in site B by the yearly seroconversion
rate. In site A, the IDR was calculated at 4.25% dog-years; in site B
the yearly incidence rate was of 9.52% (6.5% and 13.1% in farm and
kennel dogs, respectively). The strength and weakness of the two
different approaches (i.e. annual monitoring or monthly interval
monitoring) for calculating the incidence of CanL in an endemic area
have been discussed.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2006-34.xml&id=16907880" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">16907880</a>
<input name="id_16907880" value="Y" type="checkbox"><br>
TITLE: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16907880" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Photoinactivation of
<b>Leishmania</b> donovani infantum in red cell suspensions by a flexible thiopyrylium sensitizer.</a><br>
AUTHORS: S J Wagner, A Skripchenko, J Salata, L J Cardo<br>
AFFILIATION: American Red Cross Holland Laboratory for the Biomedical Sciences, Rockville, MD, USA.<br>
REFERENCE: Vox Sang 2006 Aug 91(2):178-80<br>
Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus
<b>Leishmania</b>, which are intracellular parasites of monocytes and
macrophages. Transmission of the organism has been observed by
transfusion of infected blood from asymptomatic donors to
immunocompromised recipients, leading to clinically apparent disease.
There is no licensed <b>Leishmania</b> screening test currently available. This
study investigated the potential for a novel DNA-intercalating
photosensitizer, thiopyrylium (TP), to inactivate <b>Leishmania</b> donovani
infantum in red cell (RBC) suspensions. A 5.7 TCID(50) reduction of
<b>Leishmania</b> was observed in samples treated with 12.5 micromole l(-1) TP
and 1.1 J cm(-2) light. <b>Leishmania</b> is highly sensitive to
photoinactivation under conditions that have been previously
demonstrated to maintain RBC properties during 42 days of storage.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2006-34.xml&id=16269185" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">16269185</a>
<input name="id_16269185" value="Y" type="checkbox"><br>
TITLE: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16269185" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar)--the Bihar (India) perspective.
</a><br>
AUTHORS: P K Sinha, A Ranjan, V P Singh, V N R Das, K Pandey, N Kumar, N Verma, C S Lal, D Sur, B Manna, S K Bhattacharya<br>
AFFILIATION: Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences
(ICMR), Agaumkuan, P.O. Gulzarbagh, Patna 800 007, Bihar, India.<br>
REFERENCE: J Infect 2006 Jul 53(1):60-4<br>
>From a hospital-based surveillance carried out in Rajendra Memorial
Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India, the socio-
economic, demographic and treatment response information of 737 patients
admitted with visceral leishmaniasis (VL) during January 2001-December
2003, were analysed. The disease was two times higher in males than in
females because of several factors including clothing pattern, sleeping
habits and occupation. In Bihar, the second poorest state in India,
poverty plays a major role in perpetuation of the disease, contributing
to malnutrition, illiteracy (60%), and poor housing (82%). Further,
presences of peri-domestic animal shelters around houses (63%) and
vegetations (77%) facilitate breeding of sand fly vector. Clinical and
laboratory characteristics were similar in the age groups <12 years
and >12 years. The increasing unresponsiveness of VL patients to
conventional anti-leishmanial drugs, e.g. sodium antimony gluconate (SAG
) and pentamidine, has definitely posed a major therapeutic challenge in
combating the disease. Amphotericin B, though costly, is highly
effective. Miltefosine is a highly promising new oral drug for VL.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2006-34.xml&id=16912434" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">16912434</a>
<input name="id_16912434" value="Y" type="checkbox"><br>
TITLE: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16912434" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Transfusion transmitted leishmaniasis: A case report and review of literature.
</a><br>
AUTHORS: A Dey, S Singh<br>
AFFILIATION: Department of Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi - 110 029, India. <a href="mailto:sarman_singh@yahoo.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
sarman_singh@yahoo.com</a>.<br>
REFERENCE: Indian J Med Microbiol 2006 Jul 24(3):165-70<br>
Leishmaniasis is caused by the infection of haemoparasite <b>Leishmania</b> .
The disease is a major public health problem in at least 88 countries,
including India. Various species of <b>Leishmania</b> are involved in causing
this disease. In India, <b>Leishmania</b> donovani species causes visceral
leishmaniasis or kala-azar. The parasite is mainly transmitted from
infected to uninfected person through the bites of female sandfly.
Rarely the parasite can transmit through placenta from mother to child,
through sexual intercourse, as laboratory acquired and through blood
transfusion. This paper reports a unique case of transfusion-transmitted
fatal kala-azar in an Indian infant who acquired this infection within
few days of his birth after receiving blood from his maternal uncle, who
was asymptomatic at the time of blood donation but died due to severe
kala-azar within three months. The baby started having fever and
developed hepatosplenomegaly within one month of blood transfusion and
in spite of repeated anti-leishmanial treatment with sodium antimony
gluconate the child died at the age of 7 months. This paper details the
clinico-pathological findings of this child and also reviews the
literature on this aspect and its impact on transfusion medicine.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2006-34.xml&id=16918075" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">16918075</a>
<input name="id_16918075" value="Y" type="checkbox"><br>
TITLE: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16918075" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Antileishmanial activities and mechanisms of action of indole-based azoles.
</a><br>
AUTHORS: Fabrice Pagniez, Hiam Abdala-Valencia, Pascal Marchand, Marc
Le Borgne, Guillaume Le Baut, Sylvie Robert-Piessard, Patrice Le Pape<br>
AFFILIATION: Department of Parasitology and Medical Mycology, BioCiT
UPRES EA 1155, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nantes University, 1 rue Gaston
Veil, 44035 Nantes cedex 01, France.<br>
REFERENCE: J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2006 Jun 21(3):277-83<br>
Two 3-(alpha-azolylbenzyl)indoles were evaluated against <b>Leishmania</b>
amastigotes. Both compounds proved to be very active against
intracellular and axenic amastigotes. The IC50 values of the imidazole
derivative, PM17, and the triazole analogue, PM19, against L. mexicana
axenic amastigotes, were 4.4 +/- 0.1 and 6.4 +/- 0.1 microM,
respectively. Against intracellular amastigotes, PM17 produced a 66%
decrease of leishmanial burden at 1 microM and PM19 had an IC50 of 1.3
microM. In a Balb/c mice model of L. major leishmaniasis, administration
of PM17 led to a clear-cut parasite burden reduction: 98.9% in the
spleen, 79.0% in the liver and 49.9% in the popliteal node draining the
cutaneous lesion. As anticipated, it was brought to the fore that PM17
decreases ergosterol biosynthesis leading to membrane fungal cell
alterations. Moreover it was proved that this imidazole antifungal agent
induces a parasite burden-correlated decrease in interleukine-4
production both in the splenocyte and the popliteal node of the mouse.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2006-34.xml&id=16918078" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">16918078</a>
<input name="id_16918078" value="Y" type="checkbox"><br>
TITLE: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16918078" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Microtubule target for new antileishmanial drugs based on ethyl 3-haloacetamidobenzoates.
</a><br>
AUTHORS: Abdala Hiam, David Sebastien, Bekesi George, Fellous Arlette, Jorge Kalil, Patrice Le Pape<br>
AFFILIATION: Department of Parasitology and Mycologie médicale, BioCiT
UPRES EA 1155, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nantes University, 1 rue Gaston
Veil, 44035 Nantes, France.<br>
REFERENCE: J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2006 Jun 21(3):305-12<br>
A new family of antimicrotubule drugs named (3-haloacetamidobenzoyl)
ureas and ethyl 3-haloacetamidobenzoates were found to be cytotoxic to
the <b>Leishmania</b> parasite protozoa. While the benzoylureas were shown to
strongly inhibit in vitro mammalian brain microtubule assembly, the
ethyl ester derivatives were characterized as very poor inhibitors of
this process. Ethyl 3-chloroacetamidobenzoate, MF29, was found to be the
most efficient drug on the promastigote stage of three <b>Leishmania</b>
species (IC50: 0.3-1.8 microM). MF29 maintained its activity against the
clinical relevant intracellular stage of L. mexicana with IC50 value of
0.33 microM. It was the only compound that exhibits a high activity on
all the <b>Leishmania</b> species tested. This compound appeared to alter
parasite microtubule organisation as demonstrated by using antibodies
directed against microtubule components and more precisely the class of
microtubule decorated by the MAP2-like protein. It is interesting to
notice that this MAP2-like protein was identified for the first time in
a <b>Leishmania</b> parasite<br>
<br><br>
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PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2006-34.xml&id=16756660" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">16756660</a>
<input name="id_16756660" value="Y" type="checkbox"><br>
TITLE: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16756660" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Comparative genomics and concerted evolution of beta-tubulin paralogs in
<b>Leishmania</b> spp.</a><br>
AUTHORS: Andrew P Jackson, Sue Vaughan, Keith Gull<br>
AFFILIATION: Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK. <a href="mailto:aj4@sanger.ac.uk" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">aj4@sanger.ac.uk
</a><br>
REFERENCE: BMC Genomics 2006 7():137<br>
BACKGROUND: Tubulin isotypes and expression patterns are highly
regulated in diverse organisms. The genome sequence of the protozoan
parasite <b>Leishmania</b> major contains three distinct beta-tubulin loci. To
investigate the diversity of beta-tubulin genes, we have compared the
published genome sequence to draft genome sequences of two further
species L. infantum and L. braziliensis. Untranscribed regions and
coding sequences for each isoform were compared within and between
species in relation to the known diversity of beta-tubulin transcripts
in <b>Leishmania</b> spp. RESULTS: All three beta-tubulin loci were present in
L. infantum and L. braziliensis, showing conserved synteny with the L.
major sequence, hence confirming that these loci are paralogous.
Flanking regions suggested that the chromosome 21 locus is an amastigote
-specific isoform and more closely related (either structurally or
functionally) to the chromosome 33 'array' locus than the chromosome 8
locus. A phylogenetic network of all isoforms indicated that paralogs
from L. braziliensis and L. mexicana were monophyletic, rather than
clustering by locus. CONCLUSION: L. braziliensis and L. mexicana
sequences appeared more similar to each other than each did to its
closest relative in another species; this indicates that these sequences
have evolved convergently in each species, perhaps through ectopic gene
conversion; a process not yet evident among the more recently derived L
. major and L. infantum isoforms. The distinctive non-coding regions of
each beta-tubulin locus showed that it is the regulatory regions of
these loci that have evolved most during the diversification of these
genes in <b>Leishmania</b>, while the coding regions have been conserved and
concerted. The various loci in <b>Leishmania</b> satisfy a need for innovative
expression of beta-tubulin, rather than elaboration of its structural
role.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2006-34.xml&id=16843832" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">16843832</a>
<input name="id_16843832" value="Y" type="checkbox"><br>
TITLE: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16843832" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Microwave-assisted tissue processing for same-day EM-diagnosis of potential bioterrorism and clinical samples.
</a><br>
AUTHORS: Josef A Schroeder, Hans R Gelderblom, Baerbel Hauroeder, Christel Schmetz, Jim Milios, Ferdinand Hofstaedter<br>
AFFILIATION: Central EM Laboratory, Pathology Department, University Hospital Regensburg, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany. <a href="mailto:josef.schroeder@klinik.uni-regensburg.de" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
josef.schroeder@klinik.uni-regensburg.de</a><br>
REFERENCE: Micron 2006 37(6):577-90<br>
The purpose of this study was to explore the turnaround times, section
and image quality of a number of more "difficult" specimens
destined for rapid diagnostic electron microscopy (EM) after microwave-
assisted processing. The results were assessed and compared with those
of conventionally processed samples. A variety of infectious agents,
some with a potential for bioterrorism, and liver biopsies serving as an
example for routine histopathology samples were studied. The samples
represented virus-producing cell cultures (such as SARS-coronavirus,
West Nile virus, Orthopox virus), bacteria suspensions (cultures of
Escherichia coli and genetically knockout apathogenic Bacillus anthracis
), suspensions of parasites (malaria Plasmodium falciparum, <b>Leishmania</b>
major, Microsporidia cuniculi, Caenorhabditis elegans), and whole
Drosophila melanogaster flies infected with microsporidia. Fresh liver
samples and infected flies were fixed in Karnovsky-fixative by
microwaving (20 min), all other samples were fixed in buffered
glutaraldehyde or Karnovsky-fixative overnight or longer. Subsequently,
all samples were divided to evaluate alternative processing protocols:
one part of the sample was OsO4-postfixed, ethanol-dehydrated, Epon-
infiltrated (overnight) in an automated tissue processor (LYNX, Leica),
and polymerized at 60 degrees C for 48 h; in parallel the other part was
microwave-assisted processed in the bench microwave device (REM,
Milestone), including post-osmication and the resin block polymerization
. The microwave-assisted processing protocol required at minimum 3 h 20
min: the respective epon resin blocks were uniformly polymerized
allowing an easy sectioning of semi- and ultrathin sections. Sections
collected on non-coated 200 mesh grids were stable in the electron beam
and showed an excellent preservation of the ultrastructure and high
contrast, thus allowing an easy, unequivocal and rapid assessment of
specimens. Compared with conventional routine methods, microwave
technology facilitates a significant reduction in sample processing time
from days to hours without any loss in ultrastructural details.
Microwave-assisted processing could, therefore, be a substantial benefit
for the routine electron microscopic diagnostic workload. Due to its
speed and robust performance it could be applied wherever a rapid
electron microscopy diagnosis is required, e.g., if bioterrorism or
emerging agents are suspected. Combining microwave technology with
digital image acquisition, the 1-day diagnosis based on ultrathin
section electron microscopy will become possible, with crucial or
interesting findings being consulted or shared worldwide with experts
using modern telemicroscopy tools via Internet.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2006-34.xml&id=16918063" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">16918063</a>
<input name="id_16918063" value="Y" type="checkbox"><br>
TITLE: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16918063" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Successful treatment of visceral leishmaniasis with liposomal amphotericin B.
</a><br>
AUTHORS: Heimo Lagler, Ulrich Matt, Christian Sillaber, Stefan Winkler, Wolfgang Graninger<br>
AFFILIATION: Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Infectious
Diseases and Chemotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.<br>
REFERENCE: Acta Biomed Ateneo Parmense 2006 77 Suppl 2():22-5<br>
We report a case of a 26-year-old female from Kenya who suffered from
intermittent fever of unknown origin for one month. The major findings
on admission were pancytopenia associated with considerable splenomegaly
. The diagnosis was established by visualisation of amastigotes in bone
marrow biopsy and by detection of antibodies to <b>Leishmania</b> spp. in blood
. The infection was treated intravenously with liposomal amphotericin B
for five days. The patient was afebrile after the first infusion. No
relapse was reported.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2006-34.xml&id=16913499" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">16913499</a>
<input name="id_16913499" value="Y" type="checkbox"><br>
TITLE: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16913499" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">[Apoptosis, a protective mechanism for pathogens and their hosts]
</a><br>
AUTHORS: Katarzyna Donskow-Schmelter, Maria Doligalska<br>
AFFILIATION: Zakład Parazytologii, Instytut Zoologii, Wydział
Biologii, Uniwersytet Warszawski, ul. Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warszawa. <a href="mailto:zuzia@biol.uw.edu.pl" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">zuzia@biol.uw.edu.pl</a><br>
REFERENCE: Wiad Parazytol 2005 51(4):271-80<br>
In this review we summarize the great amount of recent information on
the apoptosis in aspects of the host-parasite interaction. Although
apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death which plays a pivotal role
in normal tissue development a plethora of pathogens including parasitic
protista and helminths are able to modulate host apoptosis pathways to
their own advantage. Here in we present and discuss new research data
and results describing the phenomenon as a process have been controlled
by gene expression, biochemical reactions and receptor-ligand
interactions at the cell membrane surface. Section 1 describes apoptosis
as ongoing process in normal tissue development. Section 2 analyzes the
role of apoptosis in outcome of infection and pathogenesis of several
disorders evoked by viruses and bacteria. The cellular mechanisms of
cell death during infection with unicellular parasites such as
<b>Leishmania</b> sp. and Plasmodium sp. are described in Section 3. In the
next paragraph the potency of parasitic protista and helmiths for
modulation host apoptosis pathways to their own advantage is discussed.
The involvement of apoptosis in immunoregulation of the host immune
function was proposed as a one of possible mechanism in creation of the
host-parasite relationship. The molecular and cellular mechanisms of
parasite-induced immune response via apoptosis pathways are discussed.
We conclude that novel strategies for the management of the host-
parasite relationships need to be explained into the mechanisms by which
parasites induced apoptosis in contribution to the activity of immune
system of the host.<br>
<br><br>
********************************************************************************************************************<br>
The following references are revised files and are brought to you in accordance to license agreement with the NLM.<br>
********************************************************************************************************************<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2006-34.xml&id=15516634" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">15516634</a>
<input name="id_15516634" value="Y" type="checkbox"><br>
TITLE: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15516634" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Seroepidemiologic study of
<b>Leishmania</b> infantum infection in Castilla-Leon, Spain.</a><br>
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 RodrÃguez-Torres,
Antonio Orduña Domingo<br>
AFFILIATION: Area de MicrobiologÃa, Facultad de Medicina, Avenida Ramon y Cajal no. 7, 47005 Valladolid, Spain.<br>
REFERENCE: Am J Trop Med Hyg 2004 Oct 71(4):403-6<br>
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 <b>Leishmania</b> 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.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2006-34.xml&id=11796362" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">11796362</a>
<input name="id_11796362" value="Y" type="checkbox"><br>
TITLE: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11796362" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Ultrastructural
and biochemical alterations induced by 22,26-azasterol, a
delta(24(25))-sterol methyltransferase inhibitor, on promastigote and
amastigote forms of <b>Leishmania</b> amazonensis.</a><br>
AUTHORS: Juliany C F Rodrigues, Márcia Attias, Carlos Rodriguez, Julio A Urbina, Wanderley de Souza<br>
AFFILIATION: Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer,
Instituto de Biofisica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio
de Janeiro, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Bloco G, Ilha do Fundão,
21949-900, Brazil.<br>
REFERENCE: Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2002 Feb 46(2):487-99<br>
We report on the antiproliferative effects and the ultrastructural and
biochemical alterations induced in vitro by 22,26-azasterol, a sterol
Delta(24(25))-methyltransferase (24-SMT) inhibitor, on <b>Leishmania</b>
amazonensis. When promastigotes and amastigotes were exposed to 100 nM
22,26-azasterol, complete growth arrest and cell lysis ensued after 72 (
promastigotes) or 120 (amastigotes) h. Exposure of parasites to this
azasterol led to the complete depletion of parasite endogenous sterols (
episterol and 5-dehydroepisterol) and their replacement by 24-desalkyl
sterols (zymosterol, cholesta-5,7,24-trien-3beta-ol, and cholesta-7,24-
dien-3beta-ol), while 14-methyl-zymosterol and 4,14-dimethyl-zymosterol
accumulated as a result of simultaneous incubation of the parasites with
22,26-azasterol and ketoconazole, a known inhibitor of the parasite's
sterol C14-demethylase. These results confirmed that 24-SMT is the
primary site of action of the azasterol. Profound changes were also
observed in the phospholipid compositions of treated cells, in which a
twofold reduction in the content of phosphatidylserine was observed;
this was accompanied by a concomitant increase in the content of
phosphatidylinositol. Transmission electron microscopy showed that 22,26
-azasterol induced marked morphological changes, including mitochondrial
swelling, invaginations of the inner mitochondrial membrane, and the
appearance of large bodies containing concentric membranes. Other
modifications included increases in the numbers of acidocalcisomes,
megasomes, and lipid inclusions and the appearance of typical autophagic
structures and cell body protrusions toward the flagellar pocket. We
conclude that the dramatic alteration of the lipid composition of the
parasite's membranes induced by the drug underlies the ultrastructural
alterations that lead to the loss of cell viability and that 24-SMT
inhibitors could be useful as selective antileishmanial agents.<br>
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