Project description:Leishmania parasites cause 1.3 million new cases annually, and about 30,000 deaths are associated with this disease (De Brito et al., 2020). Leishmania can affect humans in different ways. The clinical manifestations associated with leishmaniasis vary from ulcers, which heal spontaneously, to the potentially lethal visceral form (VL) and depend on the parasite species and the effective immune response of the host (Nogueira et al., 2020). Some species of the subgenus Viannia, such as L.(V.) braziliensis, cause cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Less frequently, L(V) braziliensis and L(V) guyanensis can cause mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (CML). Furthermore, L. amazonensis can cause different cutaneous forms, from LC to multiple non-ulcerative lesions, known as diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DLC), often resistant to antimonial chemotherapy (Silveira et al., 2009; De Brito et al., 2020)). Most of the mechanisms underlying the events responsible for these different clinical forms are unknown but may be related to specific virulence factors of the parasites (Silveira et al., 2009; Nogueira et al., 2020). Extracellular vesicles (EV) are a heterogeneous group of particles released by cells and play a key role in intercellular communication (Théry et al., 2006). Proteins, glycoconjugates, RNA, DNA, lipids, and metabolites are present in LV and can be easily transferred from one cell to another. In the recipient cell, EVs can exert functional effects immediately or after the fusion and release of their contents (Barbosa et al., 2018). It has already been demonstrated that EV can transfer molecules involved in drug resistance (Barbosa et al., 2018), regulate cell growth (Read et al., 2017), and regulate or activate immune system cells. The diversity of functions attributed to EV seems to be related to the significant heterogeneity in their composition and biogenesis (Barbosa et al., 2018). Studies with pathogenic protozoa have shown that EVs released by these parasites play an important role in their survival at different levels, such as favoring infection in experimental models (Barbosa et al., 2018), immunomodulation (Coakley et al., 2017), adaptation of the parasite to the host environment (Lambertz et al., 2012) and the transfer of drug resistance factors (Barbosa et al., 2018). Thus, EV released by some pathogens may mediate parasite- parasite and parasite-host intercellular communication. Studies with pathogenic protozoa have shown that EVs released by these parasites play an important role in their survival at different levels, such as favoring infection in experimental models (Barbosa et al., 2018), immunomodulation (Coakley et al., 2017), adaptation of the parasite to the host environment (Lambertz et al., 2012) and the transfer of drug resistance factors (Barbosa et al., 2018). Thus, EV released by some pathogens may mediate parasite-parasite and parasite-host intercellular communication. Leishmania-derived EVs carry virulent factors such as the metalloprotease GP63 and the membrane surface component Lipophoshoglycan (LPG). They, along with other factors, may play a fundamental role in the infectious process and the development of pathologies related to leishmaniasis (Barbosa et al., 2018). We aim to identify the role of L. amazonensis´ - derived EVs in the complex parasite-cell host interaction and the remodeling of gene expression before and during the infection.
2026-09-22 | PXD045134 | Pride