A dysflagellar mutant of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis isolated from a cutaneous leishmaniasis patient.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Parasites of the Leishmania genus alternate between the flagellated extracellular promastigote stage and intracellular amastigotes. Here we report the characterization of a Leishmania isolate, obtained from a cutaneous leishmaniasis patient, which presents peculiar morphological features.

Methods

The parasite was cultured in vitro and characterized morphologically using optical and electron microscopy. Identification was performed based on monoclonal antibodies and internal ribosomal spacer typing. In vitro macrophage cultures, murine experimental models and sand fly infections were used to evaluate infectivity in vitro and in vivo.

Results

The isolate was identified as Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. In the atypical promastigotes grown in culture, a sho

SUBMITTER: Zauli RC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3271977 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature