Leishmania major: Parasite Interactions Suggesting Sexuality

The genome of the kinetoplastid parasite, Leishmania major.

Leishmania species cause a spectrum of human diseases in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. We have sequenced the 36 chromosomes of the 32.8-megabase haploid genome of Leishmania major (Friedlin strain) and predict 911 RNA genes, 39 pseudogenes, and 8272 protein-coding genes, of which 36% can be ascribed a putative function. These include genes involved in host-pathogen interactions...

Protozoan Parasite Leishmania donovani

Leishmania--a parasitized parasite.

Alerting the host to an infection is a critical step in the development of an immune response, and identifying the pathogen-specific molecules that sound the alarm has preoccupied immunologists for more than 20 years. A recent study by Ives et al.1 shows that infection of the protozoan parasite leishmania with an endogenous virus augments the immune response — which perhaps is not such a good t...

Expression of a novel Leishmania gene encoding a histone H1-like protein in Leishmania major modulates parasite infectivity in vitro.

We describe identification and characterization of a novel two-copy gene of the parasitic protozoan Leishmania that encodes a nuclear protein designated LNP18. This protein is highly conserved in the genus Leishmania, and it is developmentally regulated. It is an alanine- and lysine-rich protein with potential bipartite nuclear targeting sequence sites. LNP18 shows sequence similarity to H1 his...

Detection of Leishmania major using PCR-ELISA

Background and objectives: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic in most areas of Iran, and the diagnosis of its species is essential for controlling the disease. Leishmania major is the causative agent for cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans. Molecular methods are generally more sensitive than microscopic methods. The present study aimed to use a polymerase chain reaction-enzyme linked immunosorben...