Gene expression profiling and molecular characterization of antimony resistance in Leishmania amazonensis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Drug resistance is a major problem in leishmaniasis chemotherapy. RNA expression profiling using DNA microarrays is a suitable approach to study simultaneous events leading to a drug-resistance phenotype. Genomic analysis has been performed primarily with Old World Leishmania species and here we investigate molecular alterations in antimony resistance in the New World species L. amazonensis.

Methods/principal findings

We selected populations of L. amazonensis promastigotes for resistance to antimony by step-wise drug pressure. Gene expression of highly resistant mutants was studied using DNA microarrays. RNA expression profiling of antimony-resistant L. amazonensis revealed the overexpression of genes involved in drug resistance including the ABC transporter MRPA

SUBMITTER: do Monte-Neto RL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3101167 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature