Research on Leishmaniasis Studies

IFT and BBSome proteins are required for Leishmania mexicana pathogenicity, but flagellar motility is dispensable

This study shows that flagellum assembly and BBSome integrity are essential for Leishmania mexicana pathogenicity, while flagellar motility is not required for infection.

Guanylate-Binding Proteins Promote Host Defense Against Leishmania major by Balancing iNOS/Arg-1 in Myeloid Cells

This study shows that GBPs balance iNOS and ARG-1 in myeloid cells to control Leishmania major infection, with GBPChr3 knockout mice showing increased parasite load and disease severity.

Genomic characterization of a unique population of Leishmania tropica in a new emerging focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Somali region of Ethiopia

The paper sequences Leishmania tropica genomes from human skin samples in Ethiopia, identifying a new drug-resistant variant and suggesting an outbreak.

A genome-wide CRISPR base-editing resource for functional genomics and drug-response mapping in Leishmania mexicana

This paper develops a CRISPR base-editing library for genome-wide loss-of-function screening in Leishmania mexicana to study drug response mechanisms and identify novel biomarkers.

Comparative and systems analyses of Leishmania spp. non-coding RNAs through developmental stages

This study identifies and characterizes non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) across multiple Leishmania species, revealing their genomic structure and functional roles in development and host interaction.

Discovery of a novel flagellar filament system underpinning Leishmania adhesion to surfaces

The paper investigates the role of FAZ proteins in Leishmania adhesion, showing their deletion impairs adhesion and identifies KIAP2 as a key component of novel flagellar filaments.

Anti-Parasitics with a Triple Threat: Targeting Parasite Enzymes, the Proton Motive Force, and Host Cell-Mediated Killing

This paper evaluates the anti-parasitic effects of SQ109 and MeSQ109 against Leishmania mexicana and investigates their mechanism of action, including mitochondrial and acidocalcisome targeting.

Mapping of residues in leishmanial glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase crucial for binding with 3'-UTR of TNF-alpha mRNA

This study identifies key residues in LmGAPDH critical for binding to the TNF-α mRNA 3'-UTR, showing that NAD+ binding site residues are essential for this interaction.

An oviposition pheromone, hexadecanoic acid, found on the eggs of Phlebotomus papatasi from Central Tunisia, attracts gravid females and stimulates oviposition.

This study identifies hexadecanoic acid as an oviposition pheromone in Tunisian Phlebotomus papatasi sand flies, which increases egg-laying and attracts gravid females.

Dysregulated lymphatic remodeling promotes immunopathology during non-healing cutaneous leishmaniasis

This study shows impaired lymphatic function contributes to non-healing cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. amazonensis and demonstrates that targeting lymphatics can reduce inflammation.

Enhanced translational activity is linked to lymphatic endothelial cell activation in cutaneous leishmaniasis

This study identifies increased translational activity and immune activation in lymphatic endothelial cells during cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Loss of direct binding of Leishmania profilin with actin adversely affected its functions and interactions with other cellular proteins

This study shows that deleting the actin binding domain of Leishmania profilin impairs cell growth, vesicle trafficking, and mitochondrial function.

Direct genome sequencing of Leishmania tropica in tissues of Moroccan patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis reveals micro-focal transmission underlain by clonal and sexual reproduction modes

Leishmania secretory factor GP63 targets the DICER1/miR-122/hepcidin axis in host macrophages to deplete Nramp1

This study identifies GP63 as a Leishmania secretory factor that targets the DICER1/miR-122/hepcidin axis in macrophages to degrade Nramp1 and facilitate iron acquisition.

Sex differentiation, divergence, and introgression in the leishmaniasis vector Lutzomyia longipalpis

The paper investigates genetic diversity and sex differentiation in Lutzomyia longipalpis, identifying sex chromosomes and population structure across South America.

Kupffer cell and recruited macrophage heterogeneity orchestrate granuloma maturation and hepatic immunity in visceral leishmaniasis

The paper shows that macrophage heterogeneity, including resKC-derived and monocyte-derived cells, is critical for granuloma maturation and parasite control in visceral leishmaniasis.

VAPA mediates lipid exchange between Leishmania amazonensis and host macrophages

This study shows that VAPA facilitates lipid exchange between Leishmania amazonensis and host macrophages, essential for parasite replication and virulence.

Cross-subgenus hybridization between Leishmania and Sauroleishmania informs on parasite genomic compatibility and transcriptomic adaptation

The paper generates a hybrid between Leishmania infantum and Leishmania tarentolae, showing genomic compatibility and transcriptomic differences driven by gene copy number and mRNA turnover.

HIF-alpha signaling mediates the macrophage inflammatory response during Leishmania major infection

This study shows that host inflammatory responses, not the parasite, drive HIF-α signaling in macrophages during Leishmania major infection, leading to HIF-α-dependent suppression of protein translation in a pro-inflammatory environment.

Gene deletion as a possible strategy adopted by New World Leishmania infantum to maximize geographic dispersion

This study examines how a sub-chromosomal deletion in Leishmania infantum affects parasite virulence, transmission, and drug resistance, suggesting it may enhance geographic spread.

The metabolic program of inflammatory eosinophils accounts for chronic parasite-induced skin-disease

This study shows that eosinophils contribute to chronic cutaneous leishmaniasis by expressing a unique metabolic profile that suppresses Th1 responses.

Different isolates of Leishmania aethiopica elicit distinct effector functions in primary human monocytes

This study shows that different Leishmania aethiopica isolates trigger distinct effector responses in human monocytes, with long-term cultured parasites eliciting different outcomes than recently isolated ones.

Evaluation of Immunopharmacological Efficacy of Live Leishmania donovani Overexpressing Ld_ζ1domain for Protection Against Experimental Human Visceral Leishmaniasis

This study evaluates the immunopharmacological efficacy of Leishmania donovani overexpressing Ld_ζ1domain as a vaccine candidate against visceral leishmaniasis, showing reduced parasite burden and enhanced immune response.

Identification of a novel basal body-localized epsilon-tubulin in Leishmania

The paper identifies a novel epsilon-tubulin in Leishmania major localized at the basal body, confirmed by CRISPR-Cas9 tagging and nocodazole treatment.

The histone methyltransferase DOT1B is dispensable for stage differentiation and macrophage infection in Leishmania mexicana

This study shows that DOT1B is not essential for differentiation or macrophage infection in Leishmania mexicana, contrasting its essential role in Trypanosoma brucei.

Functional Characterization of a Novel Long Non-Coding RNA in Leishmania braziliensis Identified Through Computational Screening for Conserved RNA Structures

The paper identifies a conserved long non-coding RNA in Leishmania braziliensis and shows its structural importance for parasite fitness and RNA-protein interactions.

TransLeish: Identification of membrane transporters essential for survival of intracellular Leishmania parasites in a systematic gene deletion screen

The paper identifies essential membrane transporters for Leishmania survival through a CRISPR-Cas9 gene deletion screen, finding that V-ATPase is critical for amastigote survival despite being dispensable for promastigote growth.

Functional characterization of N-acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10) in Leishmania mexicana

This study characterizes NAT10 in Leishmania mexicana, showing its nuclear localization, essentiality, and role in parasite differentiation and metabolism.

Development and application of species ID and insecticide resistance assays, for monitoring sand fly Leishmania vectors in the Mediterranean basin and in the Middle East

The paper develops and applies species identification and insecticide resistance assays to monitor sand fly vectors in the Mediterranean and Middle East, revealing resistance mutations and species-specific responses to insecticides.

Evolutionary genomics of a zoonotic parasite across the Neotropical Realm

The paper analyzes the genomic diversity of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis across the Neotropical Realm, identifying two major parasite groups associated with different biomes and highlighting ecological and epidemiological differences.