Exosome Secretion by the Parasitic Protozoan Leishmania within the Sand Fly Midgut.

ABSTRACT: Despite several studies describing the secretion of exosomes by Leishmania in vitro, observation of their formation and release in vivo has remained a major challenge. Herein, we show that Leishmania constitutively secretes exosomes within the lumen of the sand fly midgut through a mechanism homologous to the mammalian pathway. Through egestion experiments, we demonstrate that Leishmania exosomes are part of the sand fly inoculum and are co-egested with the parasite during the insect's bite, possibly influencing the host infectious process. Indeed, co-inoculation of mice footpads with L. major plus midgut-isolated or in-vitro-isolated L. major exosomes resulted in a significant increase in footpad swelling. Notably, co-injections produced exacerbated lesions through overinduction of inflam

SUBMITTER: Atayde VD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4644496 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature