Human infection with different species of Leishmania leads to distinct clinical manifestations, ranging from relatively mild cutaneous (Leishmania braziliensis) to severe visceral (Leishmania infantum) forms of leishmaniasis. Here, we asked whether in vitro infection of human monocytes by Leishmania strains responsible for distinct clinical manifestations leads to early changes in immunological...

Trichomonas vaginalis is a protozoan parasite that causes a widely distributed sexually transmitted disease (STD). Since immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to specific trichomonad immunogens are found in serum and vaginal washes (VWs) from patients with trichomoniasis, a potential mechanism of immune evasion by this parasite might be the ability of T. vaginalis proteinases to degrade human immun...

BACKGROUND Leishmania infantum is a flagellated protozoan parasite that is able to parasitize blood and tissue. Leishmania species cause a spectrum of clinical disease with cutaneous, visceral or mucosal involvement. L. infantum is recognised as a cause of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and is less commonly reported as a cause of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) from countries around the Mediterranean...

The protein crystals found in potato (Solanum tuberosum 1.) tuber cells consist of a single 85-kD polypeptide. This polypeptide i s an inhibitor of papain and other cysteine proteinases and i s capable of binding several proteinase molecules simultaneously (P. Rodis, J.E. Hoff [1984] Plant Physiol 7 4 907-911). We have characterized this unusual inhibitor in more detail. Titrations of papain ac...

INTRODUCTION Canine exposure to Lutzomyia longipalpis bites and the potential of Leishmania infantum transmissibility for the vector were evaluated. METHODS Immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-Lu longipalpis saliva and -L. infantum, and blood parasite load were determined in dogs from endemic areas of visceral leishmaniasis. RESULTS Blood parasitism was similar between symptomatic and asymptomatic ...

The single gene encoding cyclopropane fatty acid synthetase (CFAS) is present in Leishmania infantum, L. mexicana and L. braziliensis but absent from L. major, a causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis. In L. infantum, usually causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis, the CFAS gene is transcribed in both insect (extracellular) and host (intracellular) stages of the parasite life cycle. Tagg...

Leishinania (Leishmania) infantum zymodeme MON-1 is responsible for the majority of visceral leishmaniasis cases around the Mediterranean basin, albeit that it causes also cutaneous forms. The MON classification is based on starch gel multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE) typing. The aim of this work was to explore further the genetic diversity and phytogenetic status of this zymodeme by alt...

Background: Leishmania infection is a serious worldwide health concern that caused by various types of parasite genus. Current therapies for this disease, including pentavalent antimonial complexes, are not safe and do have enough efficacy. The Artemisia aucheri spring leaf extract has been reported to antimicrobial effects on variety pathogens. Objective: This study aimed find how A. affects t...