Article
Microbiology
Caroline Ricce Espada, Erica V. de Castro Levatti, Mariana Cortes Boite, Dorcas Lamounier, Jorge Alvar, Elisa Cupolillo, Carlos Henrique Nery Costa, Joelle Rode, Silvia R. B. Uliana
Summary: This study investigated the susceptibility of 73 Brazilian strains of Leishmania infantum to miltefosine, showing relatively low heterogeneity in miltefosine susceptibility. The results suggest that Brazilian L. infantum may not have decreased susceptibility to miltefosine, indicating the potential for future clinical evaluation of miltefosine for VL treatment in Brazil.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Surendra Rajit Prasad, Prakash Kumar, Saptarshi Mandal, Anu Mohan, Radhika Chaurasia, Ashish Shrivastava, Pallaprolu Nikhil, Dande Aishwarya, P. Ramalingam, Rahul Gajbhiye, Shriya Singh, Arunava Dasgupta, Mukesh Chourasia, V. Ravichandiran, Prolay Das, Debabrata Mandal
Summary: In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of different types of saturated medium-chain fatty acids against Leishmania. We found that caprylic acid (CA) showed the most potent anti-leishmanial effect. Further investigation revealed that CA mediates cell death by depleting ergosterol through inhibiting the enzyme mevalonate kinase (MevK) in the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway. This study provides insights into the mechanism of CA against visceral leishmaniasis.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Renata Rocha da Silva, Fernanda de Santana Fontes Vasconcelos, Debora dos Santos Tavares, Priscila Lima dos Santos
Summary: This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the association between IL-10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the progression of leishmaniasis. The results showed that IL-10 SNPs were not significantly associated with leishmaniasis progression and were not considered a risk factor.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Carolina Ferreira, Jerome Estaquier, Ricardo Silvestre
Summary: Leishmania manipulates host metabolic pathways to evade the immune response, facilitating long-term survival and altering the metabolism of infected macrophages, which is linked to infection resistance. Studying the interactions between metabolism and innate immune cell function holds promise for therapeutic or prophylactic interventions.
CURRENT OPINION IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Geovanna Vioti, Mariana Dantas da Silva, Fredy Galvis-Ovallos, Maria Luana Alves, Diogo Tiago da Silva, Joao Augusto Franco Leonel, Nuno Wolfgang Balbini Pereira, Julia Cristina Benassi, Julio Cesar Pereira Spada, Carla Maia, Eunice Aparecida Bianchi Galati, Wilma Aparecida Starke-Buzetti, Tricia Maria Ferreira de Sousa Oliveira
Summary: The study demonstrates that naturally infected cats are capable of transmitting L. infantum to sand flies. Through clinical evaluation and diagnosis of 240 cats, the research examined the role of cats in the transmission of visceral leishmaniasis.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Katiuska Passelli, Oaklyne Billion, Fabienne Tacchini-Cottier
Summary: Leishmania parasites, transmitted by infected sand flies, cause a range of diseases in mammals. Neutrophils are crucial in the defense against these parasites, although some Leishmania species have developed ways to survive within them. Neutrophils also play a role in shaping the skin microenvironment during infection, influencing the adaptive immune response and disease outcome.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Marco Antonio Cabrera Gonzalez, Ana Alice Maia Goncalves, Jennifer Ottino, Jaqueline Costa Leite, Lucilene Aparecida Resende, Otoni Alves Melo-Junior, Patricia Silveira, Mariana Santos Cardoso, Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara, Lilian Lacerda Bueno, Renato Lima Santos, Tatiane Furtado de Carvalho, Giani Martins Garcia, Paulo Ricardo de Oliveira Paes, Alexsandro Sobreira Galdino, Miguel Angel Chavez-Fumagalli, Marilia Martins Melo, Denise Silveira-Lemos, Olindo Assis Martins-Filho, Walderez Ornelas Dutra, Vanessa Carla Furtado Mosqueira, Rodolfo Cordeiro Giunchetti
Summary: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a fatal disease caused by Leishmania infantum, and dogs are the main reservoirs. A vaccine against canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is important in controlling human and CVL infections by reducing L. infantum infection. This study evaluated the potential of two polymeric nanoformulations loaded with Leishmania amazonensis antigens as a VL vaccine using golden hamsters as a model. The results showed that the vaccines had no adverse reactions and significantly reduced the parasitic load in the liver and spleen. These vaccines may be promising candidates for a VL vaccine.
Review
Parasitology
Taylon Felipe Silva, Fernanda Tomiotto-Pellissier, Aline Kuhn Sbruzzi Pasquali, Fernanda Pinto-Ferreira, Wander Rogerio Pavanelli, Ivete Conchon-Costa, Italmar Teodorico Navarro, Eloiza Teles Caldart
Summary: The study revealed that the exact mechanism leading to different clinical manifestations among strains of the same species is still uncertain, and future studies are needed to better elucidate this phenomenon.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ilka Grewe, Thomas Theo Brehm, Benno Kreuels, Oliver M. Steinmetz, Bernhard Dumoulin, Anne Marie Asemissen, Dennis Tappe, Michael Ramharter, Stefan Schmiedel
Summary: We report a case of Leishmania infantum reactivation in an immunocompetent patient who developed visceral leishmaniasis with secondary IgA nephropathy nine years after an initial episode of mucosal leishmaniasis, which had been treated with liposomal amphotericin B.
JOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Felipe Gaitan-Albarracin, Monica Losada-Barragan, Nathalia Pinho, Renata Azevedo, Jonathan Duraes, Juan Sebastian Arcila-Barrera, Rodrigo C. Menezes, Fernanda N. Morgado, Vinicius de Frias Carvalho, Adriana Umana-Perez, Patricia Cuervo
Summary: Malnutrition may result in structural and immunological changes in the gut mucosae, leading to impaired immune response to Leishmania infantum infection. Pre-infection malnutrition exacerbates intestinal pathological alterations post-infection, promoting parasite proliferation in lymphoid tissues.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Bianca A. Ferreira, Gustavo de A. Santos, Elizabeth M. Coser, Juliana M. Sousa, Monica E. A. Gama, Leonidas L. B. Junior, Fabricio S. Pessoa, Mayara I. S. Lima, Silvia R. B. Uliana, Adriano C. Coelho
Summary: This study isolated a species of Leishmania parasite from a pediatric patient with visceral leishmaniasis and found that the patient did not respond to chemotherapy. In vitro susceptibility assays showed that the parasite was sensitive to all the drugs currently used in the chemotherapy of leishmaniasis.
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Patricia de Almeida Machado, Pollyanna Stephanie Gomes, Victor Midlej, Elaine Soares Coimbra, Herbert Leonel de Matos Guedes
Summary: The study revealed the potential antileishmanial effect of PF-429242, which induces various cellular alterations in the parasite, such as mitochondrial damage, neutral lipids accumulation, oxidative stress, and autophagy leading to the death of L. infantum. Additionally, PF-429242 treatment modulated host cellular responses that favor the development of an immune response against the parasite.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Lindsay B. Tulloch, Sandra Carvalho, Marta Lima, Richard J. Wall, Michele Tinti, Erika G. Pinto, Lorna MacLean, Susan Wyllie
Summary: A scalable resistance library screen (RES-Seq) has been developed to identify and prioritize anti-leishmanial compounds with novel mechanisms of actions. By screening against a panel of resistant cell lines, cross-resistance and shared mechanisms of action can be determined. Introducing DNA barcodes and using Illumina sequencing enables tracking of growth kinetics and relative fitness of multiple cell lines under compound selection.
Article
Parasitology
Barrack O. Owino, Jackline Milkah Mwangi, Steve Kiplagat, Hannah Njiriku Mwangi, Johnstone M. Ingonga, Alphine Chebet, Philip M. Ngumbi, Jandouwe Villinger, Daniel K. Masiga, Damaris Matoke-Muhia
Summary: The study investigated transmission, vector abundance, distribution, and reservoir hosts of Leishmania in Merti sub-County, Kenya. Findings suggest potential involvement of Sergentomyia sand flies in Leishmania transmission, questioning the exclusively Phlebotomus sand flies' role in human leishmaniases. The presence of Trypanosoma DNA indicates possible mechanical transmission and the preference for different blood meal hosts was observed.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Anurag Kumar Kushwaha, Breanna M. Scorza, Om Prakash Singh, Edgar Rowton, Phillip Lawyer, Shyam Sundar, Christine A. Petersen
Summary: Leishmania donovani is the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis on the Indian subcontinent, transmitted by sand flies which have been shown to feed on domestic animals in addition to humans. Understanding the role of non-human reservoirs in transmission is critical for sustainable elimination goals. Efforts towards VL elimination in the region may be hindered by the presence of animal reservoirs.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Solida Long, Denise Duarte, Carla Carvalho, Rafael Oliveira, Nuno Santarem, Andreia Palmeira, Diana I. S. P. Resende, Artur M. S. Silva, Rui Moreira, Anake Kijjoa, Anabela Cordeiro da Silva, Fatima Nogueira, Emilia Sousa, Madalena M. M. Pinto
Summary: The study explored the antiparasitic potential of pyrazino [2,1-6] quinazoline-3,6-diones containing indole alkaloids against Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanosoma brucei, and Leishmania infantum. Promising hit compounds with species-specific or broad antiparasitic activity were identified, and structure-activity relationships were observed. In silico studies predicted these compounds as possible inhibitors for prolyl-tRNA synthetase both from Plasmodium and Leishmania, indicating their potential for the development of novel and affordable antiparasitic drugs.
ACS MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
J. G. B. De Marchi, R. Ce, G. Onzi, A. C. S. Alves, N. Santarem, A. Cordeiro da Silva, A. R. Pohlmann, S. S. Guterres, A. J. Ribeiro
Summary: This study aims to improve the absorption of nanoparticle formulation by functionalizing its surface with immunoglobulin G. The functionalized nanoparticles showed adequate size and good entrapment efficiency, and led to a desirable increase in insulin release time. Interactions of nanoparticle components were proven through differential scanning calorimetry, infrared spectroscopy, and paper chromatography.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Valeria Aoki, Maha Abdeladhim, Ning Li, Pedro Cecilio, Phillip Prisayanh, Luis A. A. Diaz, Jesus G. G. Valenzuela
Summary: Sand flies are blood-sucking insects that transmit vector-borne diseases to humans. Their saliva contains pharmacologically active components that aid in blood-feeding and pathogen establishment. Sand fly salivary proteins have potential uses as biomarkers of vector exposure or as anti-Leishmania vaccines. However, some of these proteins can trigger the formation of cross-reactive antibodies that are associated with autoimmune skin diseases in certain individuals.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Ana Rafaela Teixeira, Begona Perez-Cabezas, David M. Costa, Monica Sa, Sylvain Golba, Helena Sefiane-Djemaoune, Joana Ribeiro, Izumi Kaneko, Shiroh Iwanaga, Masao Yuda, Moriya Tsuji, Silvia Beatriz Boscardin, Rogerio Amino, Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva, Joana Tavares
Summary: This study demonstrates that using 5'ppp-dsRNA as an adjuvant to CSP vaccines can induce effective anti-Plasmodium humoral immunity. The vaccine generates high levels of functional antibodies, which can target and kill the sporozoites, providing early and long-lasting sterile protection against both stringent sporozoite and mosquito bite challenges. The use of poly(A:U) as an adjuvant, on the other hand, results in high antibody levels but less functional antibodies and therefore less protection.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biology
Pedro Cecilio, Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva, Fabiano Oliveira
Summary: This review discusses various aspects of sand flies as vectors of Leishmania parasites, including their basic biology, ecology, and interactions with the parasites. It highlights the need to study the vectors as well as the diseases and etiological agents.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Ina Poehner, Antonio Quotadamo, Joanna Panecka-Hofman, Rosaria Luciani, Matteo Santucci, Pasquale Linciano, Giacomo Landi, Flavio Di Pisa, Lucia Dello Iacono, Cecilia Pozzi, Stefano Mangani, Sheraz Gul, Gesa Witt, Bernhard Ellinger, Maria Kuzikov, Nuno Santarem, Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva, Maria P. Costi, Alberto Venturelli, Rebecca C. Wade
Summary: This study presents a systematic, multidisciplinary approach to the development of selective antiparasitic compounds with multiple targets. The approach combines computational fragment-based design and crystallographic structure determination to derive a structure-activity relationship for multitarget inhibition. The optimized compounds show promising inhibition against various parasitic targets while minimizing toxicity.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Tiago Bordeira Gaspar, Sofia Macedo, Ana Sa, Mariana Alves Soares, Daniela Ferreira Rodrigues, Mafalda Sousa, Nuno Mendes, Rui Sousa Martins, Luis Cardoso, Ines Borges, Sule Canberk, Fatima Gartner, Leandro Miranda-Alves, Manuel Sobrinho-Simoes, Jose Manuel Lopes, Paula Soares, Joao Vinagre
Summary: This study investigates the impact of Atrx mutations in pancreatic beta cells using a genetically engineered mouse model. The results show that Atrx mutations do not cause tumor formation, but exacerbate pancreatic inflammation and endocrine dysfunction. This model may be useful for metabolic studies and as a potential candidate for inserting additional tumor-forming genes.
Review
Microbiology
Alberto Venturelli, Lorenzo Tagliazucchi, Clara Lima, Federica Venuti, Giulia Malpezzi, George E. Magoulas, Nuno Santarem, Theodora Calogeropoulou, Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva, Maria Paola Costi
Summary: Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) and Animal African Trypanosomiasis (AAT) are tropical diseases caused by the same pathogen. Despite progress in controlling HAT, AAT remains a reservoir of infection. Clearer guidelines are needed to address the challenges of drug use and resistance development.
Article
Microbiology
Carla Silva Lima, Sofia Esteves, Ines Costa, Hugo Brancal, Clara Lima, Celia Amorim, Luis Cardoso, Nuno Santarem, Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
Summary: Canine leishmaniosis is a disease caused by Leishmania infantum in dogs, which can result in non-specific clinical signs or a subclinical condition. This study evaluated the impact of using different antigens in a serological survey and proposed a serological score system to address complex serology results.
Review
Oncology
Tiago Bordeira Gaspar, Jose Manuel Lopes, Paula Soares, Joao Vinagre
Summary: This article reviews the latest research progress on mouse models of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PanNENs) and their correlation with human tumors. The article includes models with genetic alterations in Men1 and glucagon receptor genes, as well as unique models of early-onset, highly vascularized, invasive carcinomas. It also discusses the most recent models evaluating pathways related to cell cycle and apoptosis, Pi3k/Akt/mTOR, and Atrx/Daxx. The article provides researchers with a guide summarizing the main clinical features and highlights the challenges to overcome for future models to better replicate human disease.
ENDOCRINE-RELATED CANCER
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Clara M. Lima, Nuno Santarem, Nuno Costa Neves, Pedro Sarmento, Carlos Carrapato, Rita de Sousa, Luis Cardoso, Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
Summary: The occurrence of Leishmania infantum infection in the Iberian lynx population living in the Portuguese Guadiana Valley Park is described for the first time. The study found that the lynxes are susceptible to L. infantum infection. Further investigation is needed to assess the impact of this infection on the conservation of this wild species.
Review
Microbiology
Sofia Esteves, Ines Costa, Sara Luelmo, Nuno Santarem, Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
Summary: Leishmaniasis is an important neglected tropical disease without vaccines, and the available chemotherapy is suboptimal. Understanding parasite biology is essential for developing new strategies for disease control. Studies on the exoproteome, especially extracellular vesicles, have provided valuable information on parasite survival, pathogenesis, and relevant processes.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ricardo Ferraz, Nuno Santarem, Andreia F. M. Santos, Manuel L. Jacinto, Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva, Cristina Prudencio, Joao Paulo Noronha, Luis C. Branco, Zeljko Petrovski
Summary: This study focused on the development of novel OSILs-API based on amphotericin B and their biological activity against Leishmania infantum. The compounds synthesized showed increased activity compared with starting chloride forms, with [P-6,P-6,P-6,P-14][AmB] identified as the most promising formulation. Synergism in antiprotozoal activity was also evaluated for [P-6,P-6,P-6,P-14][AmB], indicating its potential as an agent against leishmaniasis.
Article
Oncology
Tiago Bordeira Gaspar, Tito Teles Jesus, Maria Teresa Azevedo, Sofia Macedo, Mariana Alves Soares, Rui Sousa Martins, Ruben Leite, Lia Rodrigues, Daniela Ferreira Rodrigues, Luis Cardoso, Ines Borges, Sule Canberk, Fatima Gartner, Leandro Miranda-Alves, Jose Manuel Lopes, Paula Soares, Joao Vinagre
Summary: ATRX mutations can lead to pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) in humans and may also predispose individuals to inflammation aging. In this study, the additional non-tumorigenic effects of Atrx deletion in mice were explored, and it was found that Atrx loss resulted in obesity, diabetes, glucose intolerance, and increased pancreatic adiposity. The study also identified the role of Atrx in endocrine dysfunction and the potential of an Atrx genetically engineered mouse model for metabolic studies.