Leishmania tarentolae molecular signatures in a 300 hundred-years-old human Brazilian mummy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

L. tarentolae, the lizard-infecting species of Old World geckos, has been classified as non-pathogenic to man. While it has been demonstrated that L. tarentolae is capable of infecting human phagocytic cells and to differentiate into amastigote-like forms, there is no clear evidence for its efficient replication within macrophages. Here we provide first evidence for L. tarentolae ancient DNA sequences from bone marrow and intestines of a 300yo adult male.

Methods

We identified molecular signatures of Leishmania tarentolae, the lizard-infecting species of Old World geckos, in hard and soft tissue biopsies from a Brazilian mummy (A74) uncovered in Itacambira (Brazil) and dating to the Colonial Period (end of 18th/beginning of the 19th century).

Results

Our re

SUBMITTER: Novo SP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4328655 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature