Exploring Leishmania infantum cathepsin as a new molecular marker for phylogenetic relationships and visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Leishmania infantum, the etiological agent of visceral leishmaniasis, is a neglected zoonosis that requires validation and standardization of satisfactory diagnostic methodologies. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of cathepsin L-like protease as a target for making molecular diagnoses and as a phylogenetic marker enabling to understand the intraspecies variations and evolutionary history of L. infantum in Brazil.

Methods

We used 44 isolates of L. infantum. The cathepsin L-like gene fragments were amplified, sequenced, manually aligned and analyzed using inference methods. The sequences generated were used to search and design oligonucleotide primers to be used in reactions specific to the target parasite.

Results

The cath

SUBMITTER: da Silva RE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6819481 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature