Leishmania development in sand flies: parasite-vector interactions overview

Bibliographic Details
Title: Leishmania development in sand flies: parasite-vector interactions overview
Authors: Dostálová Anna, Volf Petr
Source: Parasites & Vectors, Vol 5, Iss 1, p 276 (2012)
Publisher Information: BMC, 2012.
Publication Year: 2012
Collection: LCC:Infectious and parasitic diseases
Subject Terms: Phlebotomus, Lutzomyia, Kinetoplastida, Proteolytic enzymes, Peritrophic matrix, Chitinase, Innate immunity, Infectious and parasitic diseases, RC109-216
More Details: Abstract Leishmaniases are vector-borne parasitic diseases with 0.9 – 1.4 million new human cases each year worldwide. In the vectorial part of the life-cycle, Leishmania development is confined to the digestive tract. During the first few days after blood feeding, natural barriers to Leishmania development include secreted proteolytic enzymes, the peritrophic matrix surrounding the ingested blood meal and sand fly immune reactions. As the blood digestion proceeds, parasites need to bind to the midgut epithelium to avoid being excreted with the blood remnant. This binding is strictly stage-dependent as it is a property of nectomonad and leptomonad forms only. While the attachment in specific vectors (P. papatasi, P. duboscqi and P. sergenti) involves lipophosphoglycan (LPG), this Leishmania molecule is not required for parasite attachment in other sand fly species experimentally permissive for various Leishmania. During late-stage infections, large numbers of parasites accumulate in the anterior midgut and produce filamentous proteophosphoglycan creating a gel-like plug physically obstructing the gut. The parasites attached to the stomodeal valve cause damage to the chitin lining and epithelial cells of the valve, interfering with its function and facilitating reflux of parasites from the midgut. Transformation to metacyclic stages highly infective for the vertebrate host is the other prerequisite for effective transmission. Here, we review the current state of knowledge of molecular interactions occurring in all these distinct phases of parasite colonization of the sand fly gut, highlighting recent discoveries in the field.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1756-3305
83626689
Relation: http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/content/5/1/276; https://doaj.org/toc/1756-3305
DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-276
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/83626689828148278a64dd0632d57352
Accession Number: edsdoj.83626689828148278a64dd0632d57352
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:17563305
83626689
DOI:10.1186/1756-3305-5-276
Published in:Parasites & Vectors
Language:English