title: Discovery of markers of exposure specific to bites of Lutzomyia longipalpis, the vector of Leishmania infantum chagasi in Latin America.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sand flies deliver Leishmania parasites to a host alongside salivary molecules that affect infection outcomes. Though some proteins are immunogenic and have potential as markers of vector exposure, their identity and vector specificity remain elusive.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We screened human, dog, and fox sera from endemic areas of visceral leishmaniasis to identify potential markers of specific exposure to saliva of Lutzomyia longipalpis. Human and dog sera were further tested against additional sand fly species. Recombinant proteins of nine transcripts encoding secreted salivary molecules of Lu. longipalpis were produced, purified, and tested for antigenicity and specificity. Use of recombinant proteins corresponding to immunogenic molecules in Lu. longipalpis saliva identified LJM17 and LJM11 as potential markers of exposure. LJM17 was recognized by human, dog, and fox sera; LJM11 by humans and dogs. Notably, LJM17 and LJM11 were specifically recognized by humans exposed to Lu. longipalpis but not by individuals exposed to Lu. intermedia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Salivary recombinant proteins are of value as markers of vector exposure. In humans, LJM17 and LJM11 emerged as potential markers of specific exposure to Lu. longipalpis, the vector of Leishmania infantum chagasi in Latin America. In dogs, LJM17, LJM11, LJL13, LJL23, and LJL143 emerged as potential markers of sand fly exposure. Testing these recombinant proteins in large scale studies will validate their usefulness as specific markers of Lu. longipalpis exposure in humans and of sand fly exposure in dogs.
authors.affiliation: Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America.
authors.forename: Clarissa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Regis
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Collin
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reynoso
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jochim
authors.forename: Fabiano
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seitz
authors.forename: Dia-Eldin
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Elnaiem
authors.forename: Arlene
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caldas
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Cláudia I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Brodskyn
authors.forename: Camila Indiani
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Ivete
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mendonca
authors.forename: Carlos H N
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Volf
authors.forename: Aldina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barral
authors.forename: Shaden
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamhawi
authors.forename: Jesus G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Valenzuela
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D004199:Disease Vectors; D004285:Dogs; D005589:Foxes; D006801:Humans; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000276:immunology*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007843:Latin America; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D019476:Insect Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins