Responses of human endothelial cells to pathogenic and non-pathogenic Leptospira species.

ABSTRACT: Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonotic infection that primarily affects residents of tropical regions, but causes infections in animals and humans in temperate regions as well. The agents of leptospirosis comprise several members of the genus Leptospira, which also includes non-pathogenic, saprophytic species. Leptospirosis can vary in severity from a mild, non-specific illness to severe disease that includes multi-organ failure and widespread endothelial damage and hemorrhage. To begin to investigate how pathogenic leptospires affect endothelial cells, we compared the responses of two endothelial cell lines to infection by pathogenic versus non-pathogenic leptospires. Microarray analyses suggested that pathogenic L. interrogans and non-pathogenic L. biflexa triggered changes in expression

SUBMITTER: Martinez-Lopez DG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3001904 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature