Leishmania braziliensis panamensis: increased infectivity resulting from heat shock.
Promastigotes of Leishmania braziliensis panamensis were subjected to a heat shock transformation yielding an amastigote-like stage. During the process of conversion, the heat-induced differentiating form displayed an increase in infectivity (as determined by lesion size) accompanied by a total protein composition unlike that of the promastigote and a morphology resembling that of the amastigote. These biological/functional changes may be related to an involvement of a heat shock response in the differentiation of leishmania, thus having important implications in the development of prevention and treatment stratagems.
Smejkal
R M
RM
Department of Applied Biochemistry, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, D.C. 20307-5100.
Wolff
R
R
Olenick
J G
JG
D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007891:Leishmania / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D007892:Leishmania braziliensis / Q000032:analysis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000469:parasitology*; D008647:Mesocricetus; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
D011506:Proteins