Leishmania infantum proteophosphoglycans regurgitated by the bite of its natural sand fly vector, Lutzomyia longipalpis, promote parasite establishment in mouse skin and skin-distant tissues.
We demonstrate that a proteophosphoglycan-rich gel secreted by Leishmania infantum inside the midgut of Lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies (promastigote secretory gel) is regurgitated along with an average dose of 500 L. infantum metacyclic promastigotes per infected bite. Using both low (10³) and high (10⁵) doses of parasites in the ears of BALB/c mice we show that the infections benefit from the presence of vector saliva and parasite gel in the skin. However, chronic infection of the spleen was only enhanced in high dose co-infections with gel. These results provide the framework for a more natural experimental model of visceral leishmaniasis.
Rogers
Matthew Edward
ME
Faculty of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Section of Immunology at St. Mary's Campus, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Norfolk Place, London W21PG, UK. matthew.rogers@imperial.ac.uk
Corware
Karina
K
Müller
Ingrid
I
Bates
Paul Andrew
PA
D000818:Animals; D004199:Disease Vectors; D005260:Female; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000469:parasitology*; D057045:Laryngopharyngeal Reflux; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D012867:Skin / Q000469:parasitology*
D008565:Membrane Proteins; C400527:Ppg1 protein, Leishmania; D011509:Proteoglycans; D015800:Protozoan Proteins