Leishmania major Dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (DLD) is a key metabolic enzyme that drives parasite proliferation, pathology and host immune response.

ABSTRACT: Identifying antigens that elicit protective immunity is pivotal for developing effective vaccines and therapeutics against cutaneous leishmaniasis. Dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (DLD), a mitochondrial enzyme involved in oxidizing lipoamides to facilitate electron transfer for energy production and metabolism, plays a critical role in virulence of fungi and bacteria. However, its function in Leishmania virulence and pathogenesis remains unexplored. Using a CRISPR-Cas9-based approach, we generated DLD-deficient Leishmania (L.) major parasites and a complementary add-back strain by episomally reintroducing DLD gene into the knockout parasites. Loss of DLD significantly impaired parasite proliferation in axenic cultures and infected macrophages compared to wild-type (WT) and add-back control par

SUBMITTER: Onwah SS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11949353 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature