Gene deletion as a possible strategy adopted by New World Leishmania infantum to maximize geographic dispersion.
<h4>Background</h4>The present study investigates implications of a sub-chromosomal deletion in Leishmania infantum strains, the causative agent of American Visceral Leishmaniasis (AVL). Primarily found in New World strains, the deletion leads to the absence of the ecto-3'-nucleotid...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | PLoS Pathogens |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1012938 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849328078884438016 |
|---|---|
| author | Monique Florêncio Marne Coimbra Batalha Chagas Anderson Guimarães-Costa Jullyanna Oliveira Ingrid Waclawiak Thamara K F Oliveira Elvira Maria Saraiva Anita Leocadio Freitas-Mesquita José Roberto Meyer-Fernandes Laura Aragão-Farias Camilly Enes Trindade Patricia Cuervo Renata Azevedo do Nascimento Otacilio C Moreira Flávia Lima Ribeiro-Gomes Yara M Traub-Csekö Erich Loza Telleria Slavica Vaselek Tereza Leštinová Petr Volf Gerald F Späth Elisa Cupolillo Mariana Côrtes Boité |
| author_facet | Monique Florêncio Marne Coimbra Batalha Chagas Anderson Guimarães-Costa Jullyanna Oliveira Ingrid Waclawiak Thamara K F Oliveira Elvira Maria Saraiva Anita Leocadio Freitas-Mesquita José Roberto Meyer-Fernandes Laura Aragão-Farias Camilly Enes Trindade Patricia Cuervo Renata Azevedo do Nascimento Otacilio C Moreira Flávia Lima Ribeiro-Gomes Yara M Traub-Csekö Erich Loza Telleria Slavica Vaselek Tereza Leštinová Petr Volf Gerald F Späth Elisa Cupolillo Mariana Côrtes Boité |
| author_sort | Monique Florêncio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Background</h4>The present study investigates implications of a sub-chromosomal deletion in Leishmania infantum strains, the causative agent of American Visceral Leishmaniasis (AVL). Primarily found in New World strains, the deletion leads to the absence of the ecto-3'-nucleotidase/nuclease enzyme, impacting parasite virulence, pathogenicity, and drug susceptibility. The factors favoring prevalence and the widespread geographic distribution of these deleted mutant parasites (DEL) in the NW (NW) are discussed under the generated data.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted phenotypic assessments of the sub-chromosomal deletion through in vitro assays with axenic parasites and experimental infections in both in vitro and in vivo models of vertebrate and invertebrate hosts using geographically diverse mutant field isolates.<h4>Results</h4>Despite reduced pathogenicity, the DEL strains efficiently infect vertebrate hosts and exhibit relevant differences, including enhanced metacyclogenesis and colonization rates in sand flies, potentially facilitating transmission. This combination may represent a more effective way to maintain and disperse the transmission cycle of DEL strains.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Phenotypic assessments reveal altered parasite fitness, with potential enhanced transmissibility at the population level. Reduced susceptibility of DEL strains to miltefosine, a key drug in VL treatment, further complicates control efforts. The study underscores the importance of typing parasite genomes for surveillance and control, advocating for the sub-chromosomal deletion as a molecular marker in AVL management. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a1298bb8dd96491cb18b1eca8aaeb75b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1553-7366 1553-7374 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj-art-a1298bb8dd96491cb18b1eca8aaeb75b2025-08-20T03:47:41ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Pathogens1553-73661553-73742025-03-01213e101293810.1371/journal.ppat.1012938Gene deletion as a possible strategy adopted by New World Leishmania infantum to maximize geographic dispersion.Monique FlorêncioMarne Coimbra Batalha ChagasAnderson Guimarães-CostaJullyanna OliveiraIngrid WaclawiakThamara K F OliveiraElvira Maria SaraivaAnita Leocadio Freitas-MesquitaJosé Roberto Meyer-FernandesLaura Aragão-FariasCamilly Enes TrindadePatricia CuervoRenata Azevedo do NascimentoOtacilio C MoreiraFlávia Lima Ribeiro-GomesYara M Traub-CseköErich Loza TelleriaSlavica VaselekTereza LeštinováPetr VolfGerald F SpäthElisa CupolilloMariana Côrtes Boité<h4>Background</h4>The present study investigates implications of a sub-chromosomal deletion in Leishmania infantum strains, the causative agent of American Visceral Leishmaniasis (AVL). Primarily found in New World strains, the deletion leads to the absence of the ecto-3'-nucleotidase/nuclease enzyme, impacting parasite virulence, pathogenicity, and drug susceptibility. The factors favoring prevalence and the widespread geographic distribution of these deleted mutant parasites (DEL) in the NW (NW) are discussed under the generated data.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted phenotypic assessments of the sub-chromosomal deletion through in vitro assays with axenic parasites and experimental infections in both in vitro and in vivo models of vertebrate and invertebrate hosts using geographically diverse mutant field isolates.<h4>Results</h4>Despite reduced pathogenicity, the DEL strains efficiently infect vertebrate hosts and exhibit relevant differences, including enhanced metacyclogenesis and colonization rates in sand flies, potentially facilitating transmission. This combination may represent a more effective way to maintain and disperse the transmission cycle of DEL strains.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Phenotypic assessments reveal altered parasite fitness, with potential enhanced transmissibility at the population level. Reduced susceptibility of DEL strains to miltefosine, a key drug in VL treatment, further complicates control efforts. The study underscores the importance of typing parasite genomes for surveillance and control, advocating for the sub-chromosomal deletion as a molecular marker in AVL management.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1012938 |
| spellingShingle | Monique Florêncio Marne Coimbra Batalha Chagas Anderson Guimarães-Costa Jullyanna Oliveira Ingrid Waclawiak Thamara K F Oliveira Elvira Maria Saraiva Anita Leocadio Freitas-Mesquita José Roberto Meyer-Fernandes Laura Aragão-Farias Camilly Enes Trindade Patricia Cuervo Renata Azevedo do Nascimento Otacilio C Moreira Flávia Lima Ribeiro-Gomes Yara M Traub-Csekö Erich Loza Telleria Slavica Vaselek Tereza Leštinová Petr Volf Gerald F Späth Elisa Cupolillo Mariana Côrtes Boité Gene deletion as a possible strategy adopted by New World Leishmania infantum to maximize geographic dispersion. PLoS Pathogens |
| title | Gene deletion as a possible strategy adopted by New World Leishmania infantum to maximize geographic dispersion. |
| title_full | Gene deletion as a possible strategy adopted by New World Leishmania infantum to maximize geographic dispersion. |
| title_fullStr | Gene deletion as a possible strategy adopted by New World Leishmania infantum to maximize geographic dispersion. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gene deletion as a possible strategy adopted by New World Leishmania infantum to maximize geographic dispersion. |
| title_short | Gene deletion as a possible strategy adopted by New World Leishmania infantum to maximize geographic dispersion. |
| title_sort | gene deletion as a possible strategy adopted by new world leishmania infantum to maximize geographic dispersion |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1012938 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT moniqueflorencio genedeletionasapossiblestrategyadoptedbynewworldleishmaniainfantumtomaximizegeographicdispersion AT marnecoimbrabatalhachagas genedeletionasapossiblestrategyadoptedbynewworldleishmaniainfantumtomaximizegeographicdispersion AT andersonguimaraescosta genedeletionasapossiblestrategyadoptedbynewworldleishmaniainfantumtomaximizegeographicdispersion AT jullyannaoliveira genedeletionasapossiblestrategyadoptedbynewworldleishmaniainfantumtomaximizegeographicdispersion AT ingridwaclawiak genedeletionasapossiblestrategyadoptedbynewworldleishmaniainfantumtomaximizegeographicdispersion AT thamarakfoliveira genedeletionasapossiblestrategyadoptedbynewworldleishmaniainfantumtomaximizegeographicdispersion AT elviramariasaraiva genedeletionasapossiblestrategyadoptedbynewworldleishmaniainfantumtomaximizegeographicdispersion AT anitaleocadiofreitasmesquita genedeletionasapossiblestrategyadoptedbynewworldleishmaniainfantumtomaximizegeographicdispersion AT joserobertomeyerfernandes genedeletionasapossiblestrategyadoptedbynewworldleishmaniainfantumtomaximizegeographicdispersion AT lauraaragaofarias genedeletionasapossiblestrategyadoptedbynewworldleishmaniainfantumtomaximizegeographicdispersion AT camillyenestrindade genedeletionasapossiblestrategyadoptedbynewworldleishmaniainfantumtomaximizegeographicdispersion AT patriciacuervo genedeletionasapossiblestrategyadoptedbynewworldleishmaniainfantumtomaximizegeographicdispersion AT renataazevedodonascimento genedeletionasapossiblestrategyadoptedbynewworldleishmaniainfantumtomaximizegeographicdispersion AT otaciliocmoreira genedeletionasapossiblestrategyadoptedbynewworldleishmaniainfantumtomaximizegeographicdispersion AT flavialimaribeirogomes genedeletionasapossiblestrategyadoptedbynewworldleishmaniainfantumtomaximizegeographicdispersion AT yaramtraubcseko genedeletionasapossiblestrategyadoptedbynewworldleishmaniainfantumtomaximizegeographicdispersion AT erichlozatelleria genedeletionasapossiblestrategyadoptedbynewworldleishmaniainfantumtomaximizegeographicdispersion AT slavicavaselek genedeletionasapossiblestrategyadoptedbynewworldleishmaniainfantumtomaximizegeographicdispersion AT terezalestinova genedeletionasapossiblestrategyadoptedbynewworldleishmaniainfantumtomaximizegeographicdispersion AT petrvolf genedeletionasapossiblestrategyadoptedbynewworldleishmaniainfantumtomaximizegeographicdispersion AT geraldfspath genedeletionasapossiblestrategyadoptedbynewworldleishmaniainfantumtomaximizegeographicdispersion AT elisacupolillo genedeletionasapossiblestrategyadoptedbynewworldleishmaniainfantumtomaximizegeographicdispersion AT marianacortesboite genedeletionasapossiblestrategyadoptedbynewworldleishmaniainfantumtomaximizegeographicdispersion |