title: Leishmania infantum nicotinamidase is required for late-stage development in its natural sand fly vector, Phlebotomus perniciosus.
abstract: Leishmania infantum nicotinamidase, encoded by the Lipnc1 gene, converts nicotinamide into nicotinicacid to ensure Nicotinamide–Adenine–Dinucleotide (NAD+) biosynthesis. We were curious to explore the role of this enzyme during L. infantum development in its natural sand fly vector, Phlebotomus perniciosus (Diptera, Phlebotominae), using null mutants with a deleted Lipnc1 gene. The null mutants developed as well as the wild type L. infantum at the early time points post their ingestion within the bloodmeal. In contrast, once the blood meal digestion was completed, the null mutants were unable to develop further and establish late-stage infections. Data highlight the importance of the nicotinamide degradation pathway for Leishmania development in sand flies. They indicate that the endogenous nicotinamidase is essential for Leishmania development in the sand fly after the blood meal has been digested and the remnants defecated.
authors.affiliation: MIVEGEC (UM1-CNRS 5290-IRD 224), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), 911 Avenue Agropolis BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France. elogazanion@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Elodie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gazanion
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Seblova
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Votypka
authors.forename: Baptiste
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vergnes
authors.forename: Déborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Volf
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sereno
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D009243:NAD / Q000378:metabolism; D009525:Niacin / Q000378:metabolism; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000378:metabolism; D009535:Nicotinamidase / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010691:Phlebotomus / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D009243:NAD; D009536:Niacinamide; D009525:Niacin; D009535:Nicotinamidase