Persistence without pathology in phosphoglycan-deficient Leishmania major.
Leishmania infections involve an acute phase of replication within macrophages, typically associated with pathology. After recovery parasites persist for long periods, which can lead to severe disease upon reactivation. Unlike the role of host factors, parasite factors affecting persistence are poorly understood. Leishmania major lacking phosphoglycans (lpg2-) were unable to survive in sand flies and macrophages, but retained the ability to persist indefinitely in the mammalian host without inducing disease. The L. major lpg2- thus provides a platform for probing parasite factors implicated in persistence and its role in disease and immunity.
Späth
Gerald F
GF
Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University Medical School, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Lye
Lon-Fey
LF
Segawa
Hiroaki
H
Sacks
David L
DL
Turco
Salvatore J
SJ
Beverley
Stephen M
SM
D000818:Animals; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006028:Glycosphingolipids / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000469:parasitology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009154:Mutation; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D010588:Phagosomes / Q000469:parasitology; D010691:Phlebotomus / Q000469:parasitology*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014774:Virulence
D016207:Cytokines; D006028:Glycosphingolipids; C095909:LPG2 protein, Leishmania; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D003165:Complement System Proteins