Leishmaniasis

Question 1

How does Leishmania manifest in rodents?

Answer 1

• Some inbred stains of mouse control early infection, and some don’t
• it naturally infects mice which is useful for lab models

Question 2

How was the ‘Lsh’ gene identified?

Answer 2

An experiment in which resistant mice were bred with susceptible mice, and the susceptible offspring was bred with the resistant over and over. Eventually identified the Lsh gene. Strains of mice who varied in initial response to Leishmania showed mutations in Lsh

Question 3

What is a suitable way of dealing with Leishmaniasis?

Answer 3

by using the nitric oxide pathway

Question 4

what is the nitric oxide pathway?

Answer 4

• a way of generating free nitrogen radicals in cells
• short-lived but very toxic
• can readily diffuse across vacuole
• way of killing parasites

Question 5

How does N-ramp work?

Answer 5

• It is a divalent cation transporter. It removes divalent cations from where parasite lives, essential cofactors
• also seems to depend on pH

Question 6

What protein is involved in the NO2 pathway

Answer 6

N-ramp is involved in the transport of NO2 ion into parasitophrous vacuole

Question 7

What are less desirable ways of dealing with Leishmania

Answer 7

• adaptive immunity
• High IFN-y and low IL-4 result in cure

Question 8

What CD4+T cell is integral to curing Leishmaniasis

Answer 8

IFN-y

Question 9

What is the spectrum of disease in leishmaniasis in humans?

Answer 9

mucosal, self-healing (moderate), diffuse

Question 10

How can Leishmania infection be measured in humans?

Answer 10

• skin test, DTH (Delayed type hypersensitivity) is indicative of Th1 responses
• individuals with strong anti-Leishmania antibody responses tend to have worse disease