<br><span class="gmail_quote">From: <b class="gmail_sendername"><a href="mailto:info@refscout.com">info@refscout.com</a></b> <<a href="mailto:info@refscout.com">info@refscout.com</a>><br>Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 23:02:16
<br>Subject: Articles found by RefScout for your requests<br><br></span>
<br>
<table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="2" cellpadding="5">
<tbody><tr bgcolor="#ffffff">
<td>
<font color="red"><b>New!</b></font>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
Have a look at our new tool, the <a href="http://refscout.com/pdfm_intro.html" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">RefScout's PDF-Manager (PDFM)</a>! The RefScout's <a href="http://refscout.com/pdfm_intro.html" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
PDFM</a> will revolutionize your life with PDF files!<br>
Simply let your PDF files be organized by the RefScout's <a href="http://refscout.com/pdfm_intro.html" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">PDFM</a> in a table and get direct link to your local copy. In addition, the RefScout's
<a href="http://refscout.com/pdfm_intro.html" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">PDFM</a> will alert you each time the NLM PubMed updates information concerning your specific reference!
Get your free 2 months trial version now at <a href="http://refscout.com/pdfm_download.html" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">RefScout's PDF-Manager</a>.
</font>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
This is RefScout-Newsletter 7/2007 for user Jeff155960.<br><br>
<form method="post" action="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl" target="_blank" onsubmit="return window.confirm("You are submitting information to an external page.\nAre you sure?");">
<input name="action" value="listExport" type="hidden">
<input name="base" value="medline-2007-07.xml" type="hidden">
REQUEST: [ leishmania ]<br>
(19 articles match this request. 1 article matching other requests removed)<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2007-07.xml&id=17083934" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">17083934</a>
<input name="id_17083934" 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=17083934" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"><b>Leishmania</b>
(Kinetoplastida): Species typing with isoenzyme and PCR-RFLP from cutaneous leishmaniasis patients in Ethiopia.</a><br>
AUTHORS: E Gadisa, A Genetu, T Kuru, D Jirata, K Dagne, A Aseffa, L Gedamu<br>
AFFILIATION: Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI), PO Box 1005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.<br>
REFERENCE: Exp Parasitol 2007 Apr 115(4):339-43<br>
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is an increasing public health problem in
Ethiopia. There is a concern that it is spreading with increased
incidence. In this study, we used isoenzyme electrophoresis and internal
transcribed spacer one (ITS1) PCR-RFLP techniques to identify
<b>Leishmania</b> species from CL patients in Ethiopia. We obtained isolates
from 55 localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL), 3 diffused cutaneous
leishmaniasis (DCL) and 36 biopsy samples from 34 LCL and 2 DCL cases
from All Africa Leprosy and Tuberculosis Rehabilitation and Training
Center (ALERT) and clinically diagnosed CL cases from Ochollo village.
Both isoenzyme and ITS1 PCR-RFLP techniques showed that <b>Leishmania</b>
aethiopica (L. aethiopica) was the aetiologic agent in all cases. Our
study also showed that ITS1 PCR-RFLP could identify <b>Leishmania</b> species
from biopsy samples and suggests the method could be used for
epidemiological surveillance of leishmaniasis in Ethiopia and for
species-specific diagnosis.<br>
<br><br>
<map name="110bd25ba7a9c1b7_boxmap-p6"><area shape="RECT" coords="1, 140, 83, 150" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"><area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/refscout-20" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
</map><img usemap="#110bd25ba7a9c1b7_boxmap-p6" alt="Shop at Amazon.com" border="0" height="150" width="120"><br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2007-07.xml&id=17196769" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">17196769</a>
<input name="id_17196769" 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=17196769" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Analysis of genetic elements regulating the methionine adenosyltransferase gene in
<b>Leishmania</b> infantum.</a><br>
AUTHORS: Carlos García-Estrada, Yolanda P�©rez-Pertejo, David Ordóñez, Rafael Balaña-Fouce, Rosa M Reguera<br>
AFFILIATION: Departamento de Farmacología y Toxicología (INTOXCAL), Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n; 24071 León, Spain.<br>
REFERENCE: Gene 2007 Mar 389(2):163-73<br>
Methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) is an important enzyme for
metabolic processes, inasmuch as its product, S-adenosylmethionine (
AdoMet), plays a key role in trans-methylation, trans-sulphuration and
polyamine synthesis. Our prior studies have shown that the <b>Leishmania</b>
infantum genome contains two identical copies of the gene encoding MAT (
MAT2 gene), arranged in head-to-tail configuration and alternating with
another gene, called LORIEN that contains a zinc-finger motif. Both
genes are constitutively expressed throughout the promastigote stage of
the parasite cell cycle, and their flanking regions were detected by RT-
PCR. Luciferase (luc) reporter assays indicated the presence of
regulatory elements within the MAT2 3'UTR and intergenic region, and
fragments responsible for such regulation were identified by deletional
analysis. By site-directed mutagenesis of the wild-type -42 AG
recognized in the trans-splicing of the MAT2 gene, the AG slightly
downstream (position -36) was observed to be able to generate the same
levels of luc expression, thus suggesting that potentially this gene has
alternative spliced leader acceptor sites. The stability of MAT2 and
LORIEN transcripts was very similar in both logarithmic and stationary
phases. However, cycloheximide (CHX) inhibition of protein synthesis
increased MAT2 and LORIEN mRNA levels in the logarithmic phase only, an
indication that these genes are regulated in promastigotes at the post-
transcriptional level by protein factors that targets both transcripts
for degradation. However, during the stationary phase, another CHX-
independent factor also led to MAT2 and LORIEN mRNAs degradation,
indicating the existence of different mechanisms operating on the post-
transcriptional regulation of these two genes.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2007-07.xml&id=17046162" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">17046162</a>
<input name="id_17046162" 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=17046162" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Evaluation of an ELISA rapid device for the serological diagnosis of
<b>Leishmania</b> infantum infection in dog as compared with immunofluorescence assay and Western blot.</a><br>
AUTHORS: E Ferroglio, E Centaro, W Mignone, A Trisciuoglio<br>
AFFILIATION: Dipartimento di Produzioni Animali, Epidemiologia ed Ecologia, Universit� di Torino, Italy.<br>
REFERENCE: Vet Parasitol 2007 Mar 144(1-2):162-6<br>
In this study we compared a commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assay
(ELISA) rapid test (Snap((R)) CLATK Canine <b>Leishmania</b> Antibody Test Kit
, IDEXX-Snap((R))) with indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and
Western blot (WB) for the detection of <b>Leishmania</b> infantum antibodies in
dogs. In total sera from 234 dogs were collected: 59 positives and 51
doubtful sera (IFA 1:40-1:80) from an L. infantum endemic area and 124
negative sera from a non-endemic area were tested. To evaluate the Snap
((R)) CLATK's performances on whole blood, blood in EDTA and sera from
37 dogs were tested in parallel with Snap((R)) CLATK. Snap((R)) CLATK
sensitivity and specificity compared to IFA were 91.1% and 99.2%, while
compared to WB were 93.4% and 98.3%, respectively. When IFA doubtful
sera (titers of 1:40 or 1:80) were tested Snap((R)) CLATK, using WB as
reference, sensitivity and specificity were 90.9% and 100%, respectively
. Moreover, a complete concordance was observed when Snap((R)) CLATK
rapid assay was carried out on whole blood or sera from 37 dogs. The
Snap((R)) CLATK has demonstrated simplicity and performance and can be
considered a quick and reliable alternative for the diagnosis of L.
infantum infection in dogs.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2007-07.xml&id=17010679" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">17010679</a>
<input name="id_17010679" 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=17010679" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Epidemiological dynamics of antimonial resistance in
<b>Leishmania</b> donovani: Genotyping reveals a polyclonal population structure among naturally-resistant clinical isolates from Nepal.</a><br>
AUTHORS: Thierry Laurent, Suman Rijal, Vanessa Yardley, Simon Croft, Simonne De Doncker, Saskia Decuypere, Basudha Khanal, Rupa Singh, Gabriele Schönian, Katrin Kuhls, François Chappuis, Jean-Claude Dujardin<br>
AFFILIATION: Department of Parasitology, Unit of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp B-2000, Belgium.<br>
REFERENCE: Infect Genet Evol 2007 Mar 7(2):206-12<br>
Pentavalent antimonials (SbV) are the first line drug against
leishmaniasis worldwide, but drug resistance is increasingly reported,
particularly in the Indian sub-continent, where it represents a major
threat for the control of anthroponotic visceral leishmaniasis (VL). In
order to understand the epidemiological dynamics of antimonial
resistance in anthroponotic VL, we analysed here the population
structure of 24 <b>Leishmania</b> donovani stocks isolated from anthroponotic
VL-patients from Eastern Nepal: 13 SbV-naturally resistant and 11 SbV-
sensitive, as demonstrated by in vitro drug susceptibility assays. The
parasites were genotyped by PCR-RFLP analysis of kDNA minicircles and by
microsatellite analysis and the encountered polymorphism revealed a
polyclonal structure among resistant isolates. Furthermore, analysis of
paired samples obtained from the same patients before treatment and
after failure revealed primary as well as acquired resistance. The
hypothesis of independent events of drug resistance emergence is
proposed and confronted to alternative explanations. Our results show
the dynamics of drug resistance epidemiology and highlight the
importance of surveillance networks.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2007-07.xml&id=17027344" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">17027344</a>
<input name="id_17027344" 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=17027344" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Genetic heterogeneity among visceral and post-Kala-Azar dermal leishmaniasis strains from eastern India.
</a><br>
AUTHORS: Ayan Dey, Sarman Singh<br>
AFFILIATION: Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.<br>
REFERENCE: Infect Genet Evol 2007 Mar 7(2):219-22<br>
In India and Sudan, some patients of visceral leishmaniasis develop post
-Kala-Azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) while majority will not.
Similarly, the clinical manifestations and treatment outcome are
reported to vary from district to district and state to state in India.
Present study is focused on to find out the genetic variations between
VL & PKDL causing strains. Nuclear DNA from 24 strains of <b>Leishmania</b>
donovani, isolated from patients of visceral leishmaniasis (18) and
PKDL (6) was extracted and digested with PstI restriction enzyme
followed by southern hybridization using Dig labeled beta-tubulin as
probe. The results showed three different banding patterns among 18 VL
strains. However, all PKDL isolates showed a genetic homogeneity within
themselves but heterogeneity from VL isolates. Interestingly maximum
heterogenic groups were found in Bihar but all isolates from West Bengal
showed a single genotype origin. This study shows that genetic
mutations might be responsible for such variation and development of
PKDL in visceral strains of Indian L. donovani.<br>
<br><br>
<map name="110bd25ba7a9c1b7_boxmap-p6"><area shape="RECT" coords="1, 140, 83, 150" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"><area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/refscout-20" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
</map><img usemap="#110bd25ba7a9c1b7_boxmap-p6" alt="Shop at Amazon.com" border="0" height="150" width="120"><br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2007-07.xml&id=17142569" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">17142569</a>
<input name="id_17142569" 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=17142569" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Transmembrane molecules for phylogenetic analyses of pathogenic protists:
<b>leishmania</b>-specific informative sites in hydrophilic loops of trans- endoplasmic reticulum N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate transferase.</a><br>
AUTHORS: Kayoko Waki, Sujoy Dutta, Debalina Ray, Bala Krishna Kolli, Leyla Akman, Shin-Ichiro Kawazu, Chung-Ping Lin, Kwang-Poo Chang<br>
AFFILIATION: Department of Microbiology/Immunology, Chicago Medical School, 3333 Green Bay Rd., North Chicago, IL 60064. <a href="mailto:kwang-poo.chang@rosalindfranklin.edu" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
kwang-poo.chang@rosalindfranklin.edu</a>.<br>
REFERENCE: Eukaryot Cell 2007 Feb 6(2):198-210<br>
A sequence database was created for the <b>Leishmania</b> N-acetylglucosamine-1
-phosphate transferase (nagt) gene from 193 independent isolates. PCR
products of this single-copy gene were analyzed for restriction fragment
length polymorphism based on seven nagt sequences initially available.
We subsequently sequenced 77 samples and found 19 new variants (
genotypes). Alignment of all 26 nagt sequences is gap free, except for a
single codon addition or deletion. Phylogenetic analyses of the
sequences allow grouping the isolates into three subgenera, each
consisting of recognized species complexes, i.e., subgenus <b>Leishmania</b> (L
. amazonensis-L. mexicana, L. donovani-L. infantum, L. tropica, L. major
, and L. turanica-L. gerbilli), subgenus Viannia (L. braziliensis, L.
panamensis), and one unclassified (L. enriettii) species. This hierarchy
of grouping is also supported by sequence analyses of selected samples
for additional single-copy genes present on different chromosomes.
Intraspecies divergence of nagt varies considerably with different
species complexes. Interestingly, species complexes with less subspecies
divergence are more widely distributed than those that are more
divergent. The relevance of this to <b>Leishmania</b> evolutionary adaptation
is discussed. Heterozygosity of subspecies variants contributes to
intraspecies diversity, which is prominent in L. tropica but not in L.
donovani-L. infantum. This disparity is thought to result from the
genetic recombination of the respective species at different times as a
rare event during their predominantly clonal evolution. Phylogenetically
useful sites of nagt are restricted largely to several extended
hydrophilic loops predicted from hypothetical models of <b>Leishmania</b> NAGT
as an endoplasmic reticulum transmembrane protein. In silico analyses of
nagt from fungi and other protozoa further illustrate the potential
value of this and, perhaps, other similar transmembrane molecules for
phylogenetic analyses of single-cell eukaryotes.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2007-07.xml&id=17277440" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">17277440</a>
<input name="id_17277440" 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=17277440" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Structure of cyclophilin from
<b>Leishmania</b> donovani at 1.97 A resolution.</a><br>
AUTHORS: V Venugopal, Banibrata Sen, Alok K Datta, Rahul Banerjee<br>
AFFILIATION: Crystallography and Molecular Biology Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Sector 1, Block AF, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata 700 064, India.<br>
REFERENCE: Acta Crystallograph Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 2007 Feb 63(Pt 2):60-4<br>
The crystal structure of cyclophilin from <b>Leishmania</b> donovani (LdCyp)
has been determined and refined at 1.97 A resolution to a
crystallographic R factor of 0.178 (R(free) = 0.197). The structure was
solved by molecular replacement using cyclophilin from Trypanosoma cruzi
as the search model. LdCyp exhibits complete structural conservation of
the cyclosporin-binding site with respect to the homologous human
protein, as anticipated from LdCyp-cyclosporin binding studies.
Comparisons with other cyclophilins show deviations primarily in the
loop regions. The solvent structure encompassing the molecule has also
been analyzed in some detail.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2007-07.xml&id=17274779" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">17274779</a>
<input name="id_17274779" 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=17274779" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Photodynamic treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
</a><br>
AUTHORS: Sirius Sohl, Friederike Kauer, Uwe Paasch, Jan C Simon<br>
AFFILIATION: Tino Wetzig Clinic and Polyclinic for Dermatology, Venerology, and Allergology, University Clinic, Leipzig University, Germany. <a href="mailto:sirius.sohl@medizin.uni-leipzig.de" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
sirius.sohl@medizin.uni-leipzig.de</a><br>
REFERENCE: J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2007 Feb 5(2):128-30<br>
Leishmaniasis is a widespread arthropod-borne protozoan zoonosis caused
by more than 21 <b>Leishmania</b> species. Vectors are sandflies of different
genera. The disease is classified into "Old World" versus &
quot;New World" leishmaniasis and further subclassified in
cutaneous, mucocutaneous and visceral forms. Most therapeutic approaches
are not evidence-based. We report a patient with facial cutaneous
<b>Leishmania</b> tropica infection which proved to be resistant to various
therapeutic regimes. Excellent results were achieved with photodynamic
therapy.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2007-07.xml&id=17185038" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">17185038</a>
<input name="id_17185038" 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=17185038" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Cholesterol: a potential therapeutic target in
<b>Leishmania</b> infection?</a><br>
AUTHORS: Thomas J Pucadyil, Amitabha Chattopadhyay<br>
AFFILIATION: Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad 500 007, India; Present address: Department of Cell Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.<br>
REFERENCE: Trends Parasitol 2007 Feb 23(2):49-53<br>
<b>Leishmania</b> are obligate intracellular parasites that invade and survive
within host macrophages and can result in visceral leishmaniasis, a
major public health problem worldwide. The entry of intracellular
parasites, in general, involves interaction with the plasma membrane of
host cells. Cholesterol in host cell membranes was recently shown to be
necessary for binding and internalization of <b>Leishmania</b> and for the
efficient presentation of leishmanial antigens in infected macrophages.
This article describes the need to explore cyclodextrin-based compounds
, which modulate host membrane cholesterol levels, as a possible
therapeutic strategy against leishmaniasis in addition to other
intracellular parasites.<br>
<br><br>
<map name="110bd25ba7a9c1b7_boxmap-p6"><area shape="RECT" coords="1, 140, 83, 150" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"><area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/refscout-20" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
</map><img usemap="#110bd25ba7a9c1b7_boxmap-p6" alt="Shop at Amazon.com" border="0" height="150" width="120"><br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2007-07.xml&id=17196626" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">17196626</a>
<input name="id_17196626" 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=17196626" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Sesquiterpene coumarins from Ferula szowitsiana and in vitro antileishmanial activity of 7-prenyloxycoumarins against promastigotes.
</a><br>
AUTHORS: Mehrdad Iranshahi, Peyman Arfa, Mohammad Ramezani, Mahmoud Reza Jaafari, Hamid Sadeghian, Carla Bassarello, Sonia Piacente, Cosimo Pizza<br>
AFFILIATION: Department of Pharmacognosy and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mashhad, Iran.<br>
REFERENCE: Phytochemistry 2007 Feb 68(4):554-61<br>
Two new sesquiterpene coumarins, named szowitsiacoumarin A (1) and
szowitsiacoumarin B (2), and a phenylpropanoid derivative, 2-
epihelmanticine (3), together with nine known compounds, auraptene (4),
umbelliprenin (5), galbanic acid (6), methyl galbanate (7), farnesiferol
B (8), farnesiferol C (9), persicasulfide A (10), beta-sitosterol and
stigmasterol were isolated from the roots of Ferula szowitsiana. The
structures of these compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic
methods including 1D-((1)H and (13)C) and 2D-NMR experiments (DQF-COSY
, HSQC, HMBC, and ROESY) as well as HR-MALDI-MS analysis. Since the
configuration of 2-epihelmanticine was previously only partly determined
, a relative configurational analysis of its four stereocenters was
carried out on the basis of the recently reported J-based method. The
inhibiting activity of prenylated coumarins, auraptene (4) and
umbelliprenin (5), in addition to galbanic acid (6), as major component
, and of the Me(2)CO extract of Ferula szowitsiana (Apiaceae) roots has
been evaluated against promastigotes of <b>Leishmania</b> major. Umbelliprenin
and auraptene showed significant activity with IC(50) values of 4.9mug/
ml (13.3muM) and 5.1mug/ml (17.1muM) after 48h incubation, respectively.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2007-07.xml&id=17010481" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">17010481</a>
<input name="id_17010481" 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=17010481" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">High selective leishmanicidal activity of 3-hydroxy-2-methylene-3-(4-bromophenyl)propanenitrile and analogous compounds.
</a><br>
AUTHORS: R O M A de Souza, V L P Pereira, M F Muzitano, C A B Falcão, B Rossi-Bergmann, E B A Filho, M L A A Vasconcellos<br>
AFFILIATION: Núcleo de Pesquisas de Produtos Naturais, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Bloco H, CCS, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-590, Brazil.<br>
REFERENCE: Eur J Med Chem 2007 Jan 42(1):99-102<br>
Sixteen not new aromatic compounds were prepared by one-pot reaction i.e
. through Baylis-Hillman reaction and were the first time evaluated
against promastigote <b>Leishmania</b> amazonensis and infected mammalian cells
. Most of the compounds were selectively more active against amastigotes
than the reference drug sodium stibogluconate (Pentostam, IC(50)=44.
7muM). We found that 3-hydroxy-2-methylene-3-(4-bromophenyl)
propanenitrile (13) was the most active (IC(50)=12.5muM) and safer
compound (0.0 (0.9); % macrophage LDH release), being the lead compound.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2007-07.xml&id=17250794" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">17250794</a>
<input name="id_17250794" 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=17250794" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Effect of l-leucine methyl ester on growth and ultrastructure of Trypanosoma cruzi.
</a><br>
AUTHORS: Camila M Adade, Regina C B Q Figueiredo, Solange L De Castro, Maurilio J Soares<br>
AFFILIATION: Departamento de Ultra-estrutura e Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil 4365, 21040-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.<br>
REFERENCE: Acta Trop 2007 Jan 101(1):69-79<br>
l-Amino acid methyl esters, such as l-leucine methyl ester (Leu-OMe),
have been identified as agents targeting the lysosomal system of
<b>Leishmania</b> amazonensis amastigotes, by a mechanism that involves ester
hydrolysis by parasite enzymes located inside megasomes. We have here
analyzed the effect of Leu-OMe on all three evolutive forms of
Trypanosoma cruzi, in a search for potential targets of the compound in
this protozoan. Treatment of epimastigote forms resulted in dose-
dependent growth inhibition, with IC(50)/1 day=0.55+/-0.21mM. Incubation
with 4-8mM/1 day led to 100% cell death. Treatment of bloodstream
trypomastigotes resulted in cell lysis, with an IC(50)/1 day=1.46+/-0.
16mM. Furthermore, infected macrophages treated with 0.125-1mM Leu-OMe
showed a dose- and time-dependent decrease in the percent of amastigote
infection. Morphological changes in macrophages were observed only at
concentrations above 8mM, at the third day of treatment. Analysis of
treated parasites by transmission electron microscopy demonstrated
severe morphological alterations in cell shape, mitochondrion and
nucleus, while kinetoplast and reservosomes (pre-lysosomal compartments
) appeared to be not affected. Lysis of bloodstream trypomastigotes and
intracellular amastigotes indicated that lysosomes of T. cruzi are the
main target for the drug, since reservosomes occur only in epimastigote
forms. The presence of lysosomes in T. cruzi epimastigotes was
demonstrated by using ultrastructural cytochemistry.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2007-07.xml&id=17207761" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">17207761</a>
<input name="id_17207761" 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=17207761" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">The Calcineurin A homologue from Trypanosoma cruzi lacks two important regulatory domains.
</a><br>
AUTHORS: Valeria Ruiz Moreno, Fernán Agüero, Valeria Tekiel, Daniel O Sánchez<br>
AFFILIATION: Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de General San Martín, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.<br>
REFERENCE: Acta Trop 2007 Jan 101(1):80-9<br>
A novel protein from the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi homologous to
calcineurin (serine-threonine phosphatase 2B) was identified and
characterized. The Calcineurin A gene is present as a single copy gene
per haploid genome and encodes a protein of 43kDa that is expressed in
all major developmental stages of T. cruzi. Surprisingly, it is mainly
localized in the cell nucleus, in sharp contrast with its mammalian
counterpart. The T. cruzi calcineurin A protein presents the three
invariants motifs characteristic of the PPP serine-threonine phosphatase
superfamily. However, out of the four domains typically present in all
calcineurin described to date, the T. cruzi calcineurin A possess only
two domains: the catalytic and the calcineurin B binding domain.
Sequence similarity searches in the T. cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei and
<b>Leishmania</b> major genomes revealed that only L. major presents a gene
encoding a putative protein containing the four domains. On the other
hand, the T. cruzi Calcineurin B subunit showed a conserved structure,
and a reasonable level of similarity over the entire length with
calcineurin B proteins from other organisms. Interaction between
Calcineurin A and Calcineurin B was analyzed by yeast Two-Hybrid and GST
pull-down assays.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2007-07.xml&id=17075340" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">17075340</a>
<input name="id_17075340" 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=17075340" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">8-Aminoquinolines: future role as antiprotozoal drugs.
</a><br>
AUTHORS: Babu L Tekwani, Larry A Walker<br>
AFFILIATION: National Center for Natural Products Research and Department of Pharmacology, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, USA. <a href="mailto:btekwani@olemiss.edu" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
btekwani@olemiss.edu</a><br>
REFERENCE: Curr Opin Infect Dis 2006 Dec 19(6):623-31<br>
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review focuses on recent developments on
evaluation of 8-aminoquinoline analogs with broader efficacy and reduced
toxicity, which would provide better drugs for treatment of protozoal
infections. RECENT FINDINGS: The earlier efforts towards development of
8-aminoquinoline analogs have been directed to extensive derivatization
programs. This has led to discovery of tafenoquine for prophylaxis
against malaria infections and sitamaquine with utility for treatment of
visceral leishmaniasis. Bulaquine, a primaquine pro-drug, has shown
reduced methemoglobin toxicity and better malaria-transmission-blocking
activity than primaquine. Stereoselective pharmacologic and toxicologic
characteristics of chiral 8-aminoquinolines provided the lead for
enantiomeric separation of an 8-aminoquinoline analog NPC1161B, with
greatly reduced toxicity and potent antimalarial action against blood as
well as tissue stages of the parasite. NPC1161B has also shown
promising use as an antileishmanial agent. Better understanding of the
mechanisms of toxicity and efficacy may help in development of 8-
aminoquinoline analogs with superior therapeutic actions, reduced
toxicity and broader utility. SUMMARY: Extensive derivatization
approaches followed by better understanding of structure-activity
relationships and biotransformation mechanisms of toxicity have provided
8-aminoquinoline analogs with better pharmacologic and reduced
toxicologic profiles. The novel 8-aminoquinoline analogs may have
broader utility in public health as future antiprotozoals.<br>
<br><br>
<map name="110bd25ba7a9c1b7_boxmap-p6"><area shape="RECT" coords="1, 140, 83, 150" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"><area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/refscout-20" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
</map><img usemap="#110bd25ba7a9c1b7_boxmap-p6" alt="Shop at Amazon.com" border="0" height="150" width="120"><br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2007-07.xml&id=17141723" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">17141723</a>
<input name="id_17141723" 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=17141723" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Species-specific PCR assay for L. infantum/L. donovani discrimination.
</a><br>
AUTHORS: Mallorie Hide, Anne-Laure Bañuls<br>
AFFILIATION: IRD de Montpellier, Laboratory GEMI, UMR CNRS/IRD 2724, 911, avenue Agropolis BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France.<br>
REFERENCE: Acta Trop 2006 Dec 100(3):241-5<br>
<b>Leishmania</b> infantum and <b>Leishmania</b> donovani both pertain to the L. (L.)
donovani complex. The status of certain strains is questioned in the
literature and there are no reliable discriminative markers to identify
them. Molecular tools are needed to (i) identify diagnostic markers and
(ii) to allow a better understanding of phylogenetic relationships. We
have developed a PCR based on cysteine protease B (cpb). This PCR
discriminates between L. infantum and L. donovani with 50-100pg of DNA.
These two species are differentiated by their fragment length. Indeed, L
. donovani strains were characterized by a 741-bp product and L.
infantum strains by a 702-bp product, except for one strain, which
revealed a heterozygous profile with the two products. This PCR does not
generate amplification for other <b>Leishmania</b> or kinetoplastids and could
contribute to clarify the phylogenetic status of several taxa that are
also being debated, such as L. archibaldi.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2007-07.xml&id=17274851" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">17274851</a>
<input name="id_17274851" 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=17274851" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"><b>Leishmania</b>
vaccines: progress and problems.</a><br>
AUTHORS: L Kedzierski, Y Zhu, E Handman<br>
AFFILIATION: Infection and Immunity Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3050, Melbourne, Australia.<br>
REFERENCE: Parasitology 2006 Oct 133 Suppl():S87-S112<br>
<b>Leishmania</b> are protozoan parasites spread by a sandfly insect vector and
causing a spectrum of diseases collectively known as leishmaniasis. The
disease is a significant health problem in many parts of the world
resulting in an estimated 12 million new cases each year. Current
treatment is based on chemotherapy, which is difficult to administer,
expensive and becoming ineffective due to the emergence of drug
resistance. Leishmaniasis is considered one of a few parasitic diseases
likely to be controllable by vaccination. The relatively uncomplicated
leishmanial life cycle and the fact that recovery from infection renders
the host resistant to subsequent infection indicate that a successful
vaccine is feasible. Extensive evidence from studies in animal models
indicates that solid protection can be achieved by immunisation with
protein or DNA vaccines. However, to date no such vaccine is available
despite substantial efforts by many laboratories. Advances in our
understanding of <b>Leishmania</b> pathogenesis and generation of host
protective immunity, together with the completed <b>Leishmania</b> genome
sequence open new avenues for vaccine research. The major remaining
challenges are the translation of data from animal models to human
disease and the transition from the laboratory to the field. This review
focuses on advances in anti-<b>leishmania</b> vaccine development over the
recent years and examines current problems hampering vaccine development
and implementation.<br>
<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2007-07.xml&id=17278657" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">17278657</a>
<input name="id_17278657" 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=17278657" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Epidemiology of a new focus of localized cutaneous leishmaniasis in Himachal Pradesh.
</a><br>
AUTHORS: N L Sharma, V K Mahajan, A K Negi<br>
AFFILIATION: Dept. of Dermatology, IG Medical College, Shimla, H.P., PIN: 171001.<br>
REFERENCE: J Commun Dis 2005 Dec 37(4):275-9<br>
A new focus of localised cutaneous leishmaniasis has emerged along the
Satluj River valley in the mountainous region of north west Himachal
Pradesh. The main endemic region extends from Pooh subdivision of
Kinnaur district to Kumarsain subdivision of Shimla district with
adjoining Nirmand subdivision of Kullu District comprising 86 villages.
The climate of the affected areas varies from temperate to subtropical.
A total of 285 cases were recorded from 1988 to January, 2005. The age
of these patients varied from 10 months to 75 years, with 63 children (&
lt;12Years), and a male to female ratio of 1: 0.9. The duration of
disease was 15 days to 48 months with majority (85%) presenting between
1-6 months. The number of lesions varied from 1-8, and were mostly seen
on exposed parts of the body. Morphologically, lesions were asymptomatic
, dry, nodular or crusted nodulo-ulcerative plaques. Tissue smear
positivity for amastigotes was 43%. The characterization of 14 strains
of these <b>Leishmania</b> revealed presence of both <b>Leishmania</b> tropica (n=3)
and <b>Leishmania</b> donovani (n=11). Identification of the 42 sandflies
collected from the peridomestic environment of the patients, revealed
Phlebotomus longiductus - 29, P. major 8, P. kandelaki 2, while 2
remained unidentified. The patients were treated with intralesional
sodium stibogluconate and majority showed excellent response.<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-2007-07.xml&id=10446010" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">10446010</a>
<input name="id_10446010" 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=10446010" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Sensitivity of a vacuum aspiratory culture technique for diagnosis of localized cutaneous leishmaniasis in an endemic area of
<b>Leishmania</b> (Viannia) braziliensis transmission.</a><br>
AUTHORS: G A Romero, R N Sampaio, V de O Macedo, P D Marsden<br>
AFFILIATION: Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, 70919-970, Brasil. <a href="mailto:gromero@unb.br" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">gromero@unb.br
</a><br>
REFERENCE: Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 1999 Jul-Aug 94(4):505-8<br>
Sixty eight patients with localized cutaneous leishmaniasis from an area
with <b>Leishmania</b> (Viannia) braziliensis transmission had cultures
performed with a modified Marzochís vacuum aspiratory puncture
technique to establish sensitivity and contamination rate with this new
method. Overall sensitivity of three aspirates was 47.1%; (CI95% 39.4;
59.4) significantly greater than the sensitivity of a single one
aspirate. Fungal contamination was observed in 6/204 (2.9%) inoculated
culture tubes. We recommend that this useful technique should be adopted
as routine for primary isolation of L. (V.) braziliensis from localized
cutaneous ulcers.<br>
<br><br>
REQUEST: [ sand fly NOT culicoides ]<br>
(0 articles match this request)<br><br>
REQUEST: [ sandfly NOT culicoides ]<br>
(2 articles match this request. 1 article matching other requests removed)<br><br>
PMID: <a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/exportAbstract.pl?base=medline-2007-07.xml&id=17277492" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">17277492</a>
<input name="id_17277492" 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=17277492" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Deltamethrin-impregnated bed nets and curtains in an anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis control program in northeastern Iran.
</a><br>
AUTHORS: Seyed-Hassan Moosa-Kazemi, Mohammad-Reza Yaghoobi-Ershadir, Amir-Ahmad Akhavan, Hamid Abdoli, Ali-Reza Zahraei-Ramazani, Reza Jafari, Badakhshan Houshmand, Abolhassan Nadim, Mostafa Hosseini<br>
AFFILIATION: Ershadi School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. <a href="mailto:yaghoobia@sina.tums.ac.ir" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">yaghoobia@sina.tums.ac.ir
</a>.<br>
REFERENCE: Ann Saudi Med 2007 Jan-Feb 27(1):6-12<br>
BACKGROUND: Anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) has long been a
significant public health prob- lem in northeastern Iran. The objective
of this study was to determine the efficacy of deltamethrin-impregnated
vs. nonimpregnated bed nets (NIBs) and curtains (NICs) in ACL control.
PATIENTS: Deltamethrin-impregnated bed nets (IBs) and curtains (ICs)
with 25 mg ai/m2 were distributed among 160 households in one district
and NIBs and NICs were distributed among the same number of households
in another district. A third district with a similar numbers of
households served as a control. Health education mes- sages were
disseminated to ensure the populationâs complicance with the proper use
of bed nets and curtains. Sticky paper traps were used to assess the
effect of insecticide-impregnated bed nets and curtains on the density
of Phlebotomus sergenti. Deltamethrin susceptibility and also bioassay
tests were carried out on the species by WHO standard method. Case
findings were done by house-to-house visits once a season and all the
inhabitants of the selected households in each district were examined.
RESULTS: IBs and ICs provided good protection against <b>sandfly</b> bites and
reduced the transmission of ACL in the intervention district, while NIBs
and NICs provided no protection. There was no significant difference in
monthly density of P. sergenti indoors and outdoors among the districts
(P>0.05). This species was susceptible to delta- methrin in the field
population in the area. Bioassays confirmed that the nets treated with
deltamethrin remained effective for more than 3 months. CONCLUSION:
Personal protection is an effective and sustainable means of preventing
and controlling ACL and can reduce dependence on insecticides. We
encourage the use of IBs and ICs to control ACL in other high-risk areas
of Iran and Afghanistan during the active season of sandflies.<br>
<br><br>
<map name="110bd25ba7a9c1b7_boxmap-p6"><area shape="RECT" coords="1, 140, 83, 150" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"><area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/refscout-20" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
</map><img usemap="#110bd25ba7a9c1b7_boxmap-p6" alt="Shop at Amazon.com" border="0" height="150" width="120"><br><br>
<input name="listExport" value="Export Selected" type="submit">
</form><br><br>
You receive this email because you requested RefScout®'s literature update.
If you would like to change or add requests, please go to your user
<a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/user.pl?ACTION=showUser" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">profile</a>.<br>
If you can't read our newsletter, please resend newsletter back to us to
<a href="mailto:info@refscout.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">info@refscout.com</a>, including information
about your operating system and mail client software you use, and we will do our
best to solve the problem.<br>
If you would like to be removed from RefScout®'s literature service, please press the
<a href="http://refscout.com/cgi-bin/user.pl?ACTION=deleteUser" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">remove button</a>.
<br><br>
<a href="http://refscout.com/disclaim.html" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">DISCLAIMER</a><br><br>