Sand Fly Midgut Research Articles

Reactive Oxygen Species-mediated Immunity against Leishmania mexicana and Serratia marcescens in the Phlebotomine Sand Fly Lutzomyia longipalpis

Phlebotomine sand flies are the vectors of medically important Leishmania. The Leishmania protozoa reside in the sand fly gut, but the nature of the immune response to the presence of Leishmania is unknown. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a major component of insect innate immune pathways regulating gut-microbe homeostasis. Here we show that the concentration of ROS increased in sand fly midguts after they fed on the insect pathogen Serratia marcescens but not after feeding on the Leishmania that uses the sand fly as a vector. Moreover, the Leishmania is sensitive to ROS either by oral administration of ROS to the infected fly or by silencing a gene that expresses a sand fly ROS-scavenging enzyme. Finally, the treatment of sand flies with an exogenous ROS scavenger (uric acid) altered the gut microbial homeostasis, led to an increased commensal gut microbiota, and reduced insect survival after oral infection with S. marcescens. Our study demonstrates a differential response of the sand fly ROS system to gut microbiota, an insect pathogen, and the Leishmania that utilize the sand fly as a vehicle for transmission between mammalian hosts.

What has proteomics taught us aboutLeishmaniadevelopment?

Leishmania are obligatory intracellular parasitic protozoa that cycle between sand fly mid-gut and phagolysosomes of mammalian macrophages. They have developed genetically programmed changes in gene and protein expression that enable rapid optimization of cell function according to vector and host environments. During the last two decades, host-free systems that mimic intra-lysosomal environments have been devised in which promastigotes differentiate into amastigotes axenically. These cultures have facilitated detailed investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying Leishmania development inside its host. Axenic promastigotes and amastigotes have been subjected to transcriptome and proteomic analyses. Development had appeared somewhat variable but was revealed by proteomics to be strictly coordinated and regulated. Here we summarize the current understanding of Leishmania promastigote to amastigote differentiation, highlighting the data generated by proteomics.

The midgut transcriptome of Phlebotomus (Larroussius) perniciosus, a vector of Leishmania infantum: comparison of sugar fed and blood fed sand flies

BackgroundParasite-vector interactions are fundamental in the transmission of vector-borne diseases such as leishmaniasis. Leishmania development in the vector sand fly is confined to the digestive tract, where sand fly midgut molecules interact with the parasites. In this work we sequenced and analyzed two midgut-specific cDNA libraries from sugar fed and blood fed female Phlebotomus perniciosus and compared the transcript expression profiles.ResultsA total of 4111 high quality sequences were obtained from the two libraries and assembled into 370 contigs and 1085 singletons. Molecules with putative roles in blood meal digestion, peritrophic matrix formation, immunity and response to oxidative stress were identified, including proteins that were not previously reported in sand flies. These molecules were evaluated relative to other published sand fly transcripts. Comparative analysis of the two libraries revealed transcripts differentially expressed in response to blood feeding. Molecules up regulated by blood feeding include a putative peritrophin (PperPer1), two chymotrypsin-like proteins (PperChym1 and PperChym2), a putative trypsin (PperTryp3) and four putative microvillar proteins (PperMVP1, 2, 4 and 5). Additionally, several transcripts were more abundant in the sugar fed midgut, such as two putative trypsins (PperTryp1 and PperTryp2), a chymotrypsin (PperChym3) and a microvillar protein (PperMVP3). We performed a detailed temporal expression profile analysis of the putative trypsin transcripts using qPCR and confirmed the expression of blood-induced and blood-repressed trypsins. Trypsin expression was measured in Leishmania infantum-infected and uninfected sand flies, which identified the L. infantum-induced down regulation of PperTryp3 at 24 hours post-blood meal.ConclusionThis midgut tissue-specific transcriptome provides insight into the molecules expressed in the midgut of P. perniciosus, an important vector of visceral leishmaniasis in the Old World. Through the comparative analysis of the libraries we identified molecules differentially expressed during blood meal digestion. Additionally, this study provides a detailed comparison to transcripts of other sand flies. Moreover, our analysis of putative trypsins demonstrated that L. infantum infection can reduce the transcript abundance of trypsin PperTryp3 in the midgut of P. perniciosus.

Richness and diversity of sand flies (Diptera, Psychodidae) in an Atlantic rainforest reserve in southeastern Brazil

Our objective was to study and evaluate the richness and diversity of Phlebotominae fauna in the Duas Bocas Biological Reserve (DBBR) in the state of Espírito Santo, in southeastern Brazil. Sand fly collections were carried out during four consecutive nights each month between August 2007 and July 2008 at DBBR by using CDC automatic light traps and an illuminated Shannon trap. Specific richness (S) and Shannon diversity index (H) was calculated for each trap. We collected 18,868 sand flies belonging to 29 species and 13 genera. Nyssomyia yuilli yuilli was the most abundant species followed by Psychodopygus ayrozai, Ps. hirsutus, Psathyromyia pascalei, and Ps. matosi. We recorded Brumptomyia cardosoi, Br. troglodytes, and Ps. geniculatus for the first time in the state of Espírito Santo. We discuss the differences in diversity and richness of the sand flies in both traps and in relation to other Brazilian localities and biomes. We also discuss the possibility of wild transmission of Leishmania in the DBBR and the influence of the sand fly species in leishmaniasis transmission to the adjacent areas of the reserve.

Targeting the Midgut Secreted PpChit1 Reduces Leishmania major Development in Its Natural Vector, the Sand Fly Phlebotomus papatasi

BackgroundDuring its developmental cycle within the sand fly vector, Leishmania must survive an early proteolytic attack, escape the peritrophic matrix, and then adhere to the midgut epithelia in order to prevent excretion with remnants of the blood meal. These three steps are critical for the establishment of an infection within the vector and are linked to interactions controlling species-specific vector competence. PpChit1 is a midgut-specific chitinase from Phlebotomus papatasi presumably involved in maturation and degradation of the peritrophic matrix. Sand fly midgut chitinases, such as PpChit1, whether acting independently or in a synergistic manner with Leishmania-secreted chitinase, possibly play a role in the Leishmania escape from the endoperitrophic space. Thus, we predicted that silencing of sand fly chitinase will lead to reduction or elimination of Leishmania within the gut of the sand fly vector.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe used injection of dsRNA to induce knock down of PpChit1 transcripts (dsPpChit1) and assessed the effect on protein levels post blood meal (PBM) and on Leishmania major development within P. papatasi. Injection of dsPpChit1 led to a significant reduction of PpChit1 transcripts from 24 hours to 96 hours PBM. More importantly, dsPpChit1 led to a significant reduction in protein levels and in the number of Le. major present in the midgut of infected P. papatasi following a infective blood meal.Conclusion/SignificanceOur data supports targeting PpChit1 as a potential transmission blocking vaccine candidate against leishmaniasis.

Leishmania infantum: Lipophosphoglycan intraspecific variation and interaction with vertebrate and invertebrate hosts

Interspecies variations in lipophosphoglycan (LPG) have been the focus of intense study over the years due its role in specificity during sand fly-Leishmania interaction. This cell surface glycoconjugate is highly polymorphic among species with variations in sugars that branch off the conserved Gal(β1,4)Man(α1)-PO4 backbone of repeat units. However, the degree of intraspecies polymorphism in LPG of Leishmania infantum (syn. Leishmania chagasi) is not known. In this study, intraspecific variation in the repeat units of LPG was evaluated in 16 strains of L. infantum from Brazil, France, Algeria and Tunisia. The structural polymorphism in the L. infantum LPG repeat units was relatively slight and consisted of three types: type I does not have side chains; type II has one β-glucose residue that branches off the disaccharide-phosphate repeat units and type III has up to three glucose residues (oligo-glucosylated). The significance of these modifications was investigated during in vivo interaction of L. infantum with Lutzomyia longipalpis, and in vitro interaction of the parasites and respective LPGs with murine macrophages. There were no consequential differences in the parasite densities in sand fly midguts infected with Leishmania strains exhibiting type I, II and III LPGs. However, higher nitric oxide production was observed in macrophages exposed to glucosylated type II LPG.

Leishmania major Survival in Selective Phlebotomus papatasi Sand Fly Vector Requires a Specific SCG-Encoded Lipophosphoglycan Galactosylation Pattern

Phlebotomine sand flies that transmit the protozoan parasite Leishmania differ greatly in their ability to support different parasite species or strains in the laboratory: while some show considerable selectivity, others are more permissive. In “selective” sand flies, Leishmania binding and survival in the fly midgut typically depends upon the abundant promastigote surface adhesin lipophosphoglycan (LPG), which exhibits species- and strain-specific modifications of the dominant phosphoglycan (PG) repeat units. For the “selective” fly Phlebotomus papatasi PpapJ, side chain galactosyl-modifications (scGal) of PG repeats play key roles in parasite binding. We probed the specificity and properties of this scGal-LPG PAMP (Pathogen Associated Molecular Pattern) through studies of natural isolates exhibiting a wide range of galactosylation patterns, and of a panel of isogenic L. major engineered to express similar scGal-LPG diversity by transfection of SCG-encoded β1,3-galactosyltransferases with different activities. Surprisingly, both ‘poly-scGal’ and ‘null-scGal’ lines survived poorly relative to PpapJ-sympatric L. major FV1 and other ‘mono-scGal’ lines. However, survival of all lines was equivalent in P. duboscqi, which naturally transmit L. major strains bearing ‘null-scGal’-LPG PAMPs. We then asked whether scGal-LPG-mediated interactions were sufficient for PpapJ midgut survival by engineering Leishmania donovani, which normally express unsubstituted LPG, to express a ‘PpapJ-optimal’ scGal-LPG PAMP. Unexpectedly, these “L. major FV1-cloaked” L. donovani-SCG lines remained unable to survive within PpapJ flies. These studies establish that midgut survival of L. major in PpapJ flies is exquisitely sensitive to the scGal-LPG PAMP, requiring a specific ‘mono-scGal’ pattern. However, failure of ‘mono-scGal’ L. donovani-SCG lines to survive in selective PpapJ flies suggests a requirement for an additional, as yet unidentified L. major-specific parasite factor(s). The interplay of the LPG PAMP and additional factor(s) with sand fly midgut receptors may determine whether a given sand fly host is “selective” or “permissive”, with important consequences to both disease transmission and the natural co-evolution of sand flies and Leishmania.

Stage-Specific Adhesion of Leishmania Promastigotes to Sand Fly Midguts Assessed Using an Improved Comparative Binding Assay

BackgroundThe binding of Leishmania promastigotes to the midgut epithelium is regarded as an essential part of the life-cycle in the sand fly vector, enabling the parasites to persist beyond the initial blood meal phase and establish the infection. However, the precise nature of the promastigote stage(s) that mediate binding is not fully understood.Methodology/Principal FindingsTo address this issue we have developed an in vitro gut binding assay in which two promastigote populations are labelled with different fluorescent dyes and compete for binding to dissected sand fly midguts. Binding of procyclic, nectomonad, leptomonad and metacyclic promastigotes of Leishmania infantum and L. mexicana to the midguts of blood-fed, female Lutzomyia longipalpis was investigated. The results show that procyclic and metacyclic promastigotes do not bind to the midgut epithelium in significant numbers, whereas nectomonad and leptomonad promastigotes both bind strongly and in similar numbers. The assay was then used to compare the binding of a range of different parasite species (L. infantum, L. mexicana, L. braziliensis, L. major, L. tropica) to guts dissected from various sand flies (Lu. longipalpis, Phlebotomus papatasi, P. sergenti). The results of these comparisons were in many cases in line with expectations, the natural parasite binding most effectively to its natural vector, and no examples were found where a parasite was unable to bind to its natural vector. However, there were interesting exceptions: L. major and L. tropica being able to bind to Lu. longipalpis better than L. infantum; L. braziliensis was able to bind to P. papatasi as well as L. major; and significant binding of L. major to P. sergenti and L. tropica to P. papatasi was observed.Conclusions/SignificanceThe results demonstrate that Leishmania gut binding is strictly stage-dependent, is a property of those forms found in the middle phase of development (nectomonad and leptomonad forms), but is absent in the early blood meal and final stages (procyclic and metacyclic forms). Further they show that although gut binding may be necessary for parasite establishment, in several vector-parasite pairs the specificity of such in vitro binding alone is insufficient to explain overall vector specificity. Other significant barriers to development must exist in certain refractory Leishmania parasite-sand fly vector combinations. A re-appraisal of the specificity of the Leishmania-sand fly relationship is required.

Inhibition of trypsin expression in Lutzomyia longipalpis using RNAi enhances the survival of Leishmania

BackgroundLeishmania parasites must overcome several barriers to achieve transmission by their sand fly vectors. One of the earliest threats is exposure to enzymes during blood meal digestion. Trypsin-like enzymes appear to be detrimental to parasite survival during the very early phase of development as amastigotes transform into promastigote stages. Here, we investigate whether parasites can affect trypsin secretion by the sand fly midgut epithelium and if inhibition of this process is of survival value to the parasites.ResultsInfections of Lutzomyia longipalpis with Leishmania mexicana were studied and these showed that infected sand flies produced less trypsin-like enzyme activity during blood meal digestion when compared to uninfected controls. RNA interference was used to inhibit trypsin 1 gene expression by micro-injection into the thorax, as trypsin 1 is the major blood meal induced trypsin activity in the sand fly midgut. Injection of specific double stranded RNA reduced trypsin 1 expression as assessed by RT-PCR and enzyme assays, and also led to increased numbers of parasites in comparison with mock-injected controls. Injection by itself was observed to have an inhibitory effect on the level of infection, possibly through stimulation of a wound repair or immune response by the sand fly.ConclusionLeishmania mexicana was shown to be able to modulate trypsin secretion by Lutzomyia longipalpis to its own advantage, and direct inhibition of trypsin gene expression led to increased parasite numbers in the midguts of infected flies. Successful application of RNA interference methodology to Leishmania-infected sand flies now opens up the use of this technique to study a wide range of sand fly genes and their role in the parasite-vector interaction.

Inhibitor of Cysteine Peptidase Does Not Influence the Development of <I>Leishmania mexicana</I> in <I>Lutzomyia longipalpis</I>

It has been proposed that the natural cysteine peptidase inhibitor ICP of Leishmania mexicana protects the protozoan parasite from insect host proteolytic enzymes, thereby promoting survival. To test this hypothesis, L. mexicana mutants deficient in ICP were evaluated for their ability to develop in the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis. No significant differences were found between the wild-type parasites, two independently derived ICP-deficient mutants, or mutants overexpressing ICP; all lines developed similarly in the sand fly midgut and produced heavy late-stage infections. In addition, recombinant L. mexicana ICP did not inhibit peptidase activity of the midgut extracts in vitro. We conclude that ICP has no major role in promoting survival of L. mexicana in the vectorial part of its life cycle in L. longipalpis.

Leishmania in Sand Flies: Comparison of Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction with Other Techniques to Determine the Intensity of Infection

Quantification of Leishmania parasites in the sand fly digestive tract is important for evaluation of vector competence. We compared quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) with two "traditional" methods, estimation in situ and direct counting with the aid of a hemocytometer, to evaluate their usefulness in different parasite-vector combinations. Phlebotomus duboscqi Neveu-Lemarie and Phlebotomus arabicus Theodor sand flies were infected with Leishmania major and Leishmania infantum, respectively, and different approaches were compared to determine the intensity of Leishmania infections before and after defecation of the bloodmeal (on days 2 and 8 postinfection, respectively). Estimation of parasite numbers in situ is only a semiquantitative method, but it is quick and provides data about localization of infection. We recommend this technique for low-intensity infections after the bloodmeal is passed. Counting in a hemocytometer is a suitable technique for heavily infected sand flies or for quantification of Leishmania within the bloodmeal. Because of its relatively high cut-off (60 parasites per gut), it is not useful for low-intensity infection soon after defecation when parasites are attached to midgut. The most accurate approach for parasite quantification in any type of sand fly infection is Q-PCR. This method is also highly sensitive and can detect one parasite per gut. Localization of a Leishmania infection in the sand fly midgut is a parameter equally important to parasite numbers. Therefore, to get full information about the Leishmania development in sand flies, we propose to combine various techniques. Both Q-PCR and counting with a hemocytometer always should be preceded by in situ examination under the microscope to assess the localization of the infection.

Comparative real-time kinetic analysis of human complement killing of Leishmania infantum promastigotes derived from axenic culture or from Phlebotomus perniciosus

Although Leishmania metacyclic promastigotes are generally considered resistant to human complement, studies of in vitro-cultured axenic stationary promastigotes using serum concentrations that approximate physiological plasma conditions indicate complement sensitivity. Natural Leishmania infection is caused by sand fly-inoculated promastigotes, whose complement resistance has not been analyzed systematically. We compared Leishmania susceptibility to human complement in L. infantum promastigotes derived from in vitro cultures and from sand flies. Phlebotomus perniciosus sand flies were fed with axenic promastigotes, L. infantum-infected U-937 cells, or spleen cells from L. infantum-infected hamsters. On selected days post-feeding, flies were dissected and promastigotes isolated; in addition, axenic promastigotes were obtained from culture at equivalent days of growth. In near-physiological serum concentration and temperature conditions, measurement of real-time kinetics of propidium iodide uptake showed that ∼90% of axenic- and sand fly-derived promastigotes were rapidly killed by complement. We found no substantial differences between promastigotes from axenic culture, those isolated from flies on different post-feeding days, or those generated in flies fed with distinct inocula. The results indicate that Leishmania susceptibility to human complement is independent of promastigote developmental stage in the sand fly mid-gut and in axenic culture.

Exploring the midgut transcriptome of Phlebotomus papatasi: comparative analysis of expression profiles of sugar-fed, blood-fed and Leishmania major-infected sandflies

BackgroundIn sandflies, the blood meal is responsible for the induction of several physiologic processes that culminate in egg development and maturation. During blood feeding, infected sandflies are also able to transmit the parasite Leishmania to a suitable host. Many blood-induced molecules play significant roles during Leishmania development in the sandfly midgut, including parasite killing within the endoperitrophic space. In this work, we randomly sequenced transcripts from three distinct high quality full-length female Phlebotomus papatasi midgut-specific cDNA libraries from sugar-fed, blood-fed and Leishmania major-infected sandflies. Furthermore, we compared the transcript expression profiles from the three different cDNA libraries by customized bioinformatics analysis and validated these findings by semi-quantitative PCR and real-time PCR.ResultsTranscriptome analysis of 4010 cDNA clones resulted in the identification of the most abundant P. papatasi midgut-specific transcripts. The identified molecules included those with putative roles in digestion and peritrophic matrix formation, among others. Moreover, we identified sandfly midgut transcripts that are expressed only after a blood meal, such as microvilli associated-like protein (PpMVP1, PpMVP2 and PpMVP3), a peritrophin (PpPer1), trypsin 4 (PpTryp4), chymotrypsin PpChym2, and two unknown proteins. Of interest, many of these overabundant transcripts such as PpChym2, PpMVP1, PpMVP2, PpPer1 and PpPer2 were of lower abundance when the sandfly was given a blood meal in the presence of L. major.ConclusionThis tissue-specific transcriptome analysis provides a comprehensive look at the repertoire of transcripts present in the midgut of the sandfly P. papatasi. Furthermore, the customized bioinformatic analysis allowed us to compare and identify the overall transcript abundance from sugar-fed, blood-fed and Leishmania-infected sandflies. The suggested upregulation of specific transcripts in a blood-fed cDNA library were validated by real-time PCR, suggesting that this customized bioinformatic analysis is a powerful and accurate tool useful in analysing expression profiles from different cDNA libraries. Additionally, the findings presented in this work suggest that the Leishmania parasite is modulating key enzymes or proteins in the gut of the sandfly that may be beneficial for its establishment and survival.

Sand flies and Leishmania: specific versus permissive vectors

In a recent comprehensive review in Trends in Parasitology, Kamhawi [ 1 Kamhawi S. Phlebotominae sand flies and Leishmania parasites: friends or foes?. Trends Parasitol. 2006; 22: 439-445 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (231) Google Scholar ] highlighted the role of sand fly midgut lipophosphoglycan (LPG) receptors in Leishmania attachment. This attachment is a crucial step in Leishmania development because it enables the parasite to avoid expulsion from the midgut when the fly defecates. Two sand fly species, Phlebotomus papatasi and Phlebotomus sergenti, display remarkable specificity for the Leishmania species that they transmit (i.e. Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica respectively) [ 1 Kamhawi S. Phlebotominae sand flies and Leishmania parasites: friends or foes?. Trends Parasitol. 2006; 22: 439-445 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (231) Google Scholar ]. In these vectors, attachment is controlled by LPG receptors that bind to the terminal carbohydrates of the parasite LPG. In P. papatasi the galactose-specific lectin PpGalec was identified as the LPG receptor [ 2 Kamhawi S. et al. A role for insect galectins in parasite survival. Cell. 2004; 119: 329-341 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (196) Google Scholar ].

Effect of Temperature on Metabolism of <I>Phlebotomus papatasi</I> (Diptera: Psychodidae)

Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli) (Diptera: Psychodidae) is the most important vector of Leishmania major, and previous experiments revealed that Leishmania development in the sand fly midgut is significantly affected by temperature. Therefore, we maintained blood-fed P. papatasi females at 23 or 28 degrees C to understand the effect of temperature on bloodmeal digestion and developmental times of this sand fly. At the lower temperature, the metabolic processes were slower and developmental times were longer: defecation, oviposition, and egg hatch started later and took longer to complete. Also, the mortality of blood-fed females was significantly lower. The defecation of bloodmeal remains was delayed for 12-36 h at 23 degrees C compared with the group maintained at 28 degrees C. Such delay would provide more time for Leishmania to establish the midgut infection and could partially explain the increased susceptibility of P. papatasi to Leishmania major at 23 degrees C. In both experimental groups, blood-fed females laid similar numbers of eggs (mean 60 and 70, maximum 104 and 115 per female). Egg numbers were positively correlated with the amount of hematin excreted in feces of ovipositing females. In parallel experiments, autogeny was recorded in 8% of females. The autogenous egg batches were smaller (mean, 12; range, 1-39), but they all produced viable larvae.

Genomic organization and expression of the expanded SCG/L/R gene family of Leishmania major: Internal clusters and telomeric localization of SCGs mediating species-specific LPG modifications

Stage-specific modifications to the abundant surface lipophosphoglycan (LPG) adhesin of Leishmania play critical roles in binding and release of the parasite during its infectious cycle in the sand fly, and control the ability of different fly species to transmit different parasite strains and species. In Leishmania major Friedlin V1, binding to a sand fly midgut lectin is mediated by side chain galactosyl (scGal) modifications of the LPG phosphoglycan (PG) repeats, while release occurs following arabinose-capping of scGals. Previously we identified a family of six SCG genes encoding PG scβ-galactosyltransferases, and here we show that the extended SCG gene family (now termed SCG/L/R) encompasses 14 members in three subfamilies ( SCG, SCGL and SCGR). Northern blot and RT-PCR analyses suggest that most of the SCG/L/R genes are expressed, with distinct patterns during the infectious cycle. The six SCGR subfamily genes are clustered and interspersed with the two SCA genes responsible for developmentally regulated arabinosylation of PG scGals; relationships amongst the SCGR revealed clear evidence of extensive gene conversion. In contrast, the seven SCG ‘core’ family members are localized adjacent to telomeres. These telomeres share varying amounts of sequence upstream and/or downstream of the SCG ORFs, again providing evidence of past gene conversions. Multiple SCG1–7 RNAs were expressed simultaneously within parasite populations. Potentially, telomeric localization of SCG genes may function primarily to facilitate gene conversion and the elaboration of functional evolutionary diversity in the degree of PG sc-galactosylation observed in other strains of L. major.

The 3A1-La monoclonal antibody reveals key features of Leishmania (L) amazonensis metacyclic promastigotes and inhibits procyclics attachment to the sand fly midgut

In this work, we characterise metacyclic promastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis, the causative agent of cutaneous and diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis in the New World. To purify metacyclics from stationary culture by negative selection, we used the monoclonal antibody 3A1-La produced against procyclic promastigotes. The purified forms named 3A1-La(−) promastigotes, present key metacyclic characteristics: slender cell body and long flagella, ultrastructural features, resistance to complement lysis, high infectivity for macrophages and mice and reduced capacity for binding to the sand fly midgut. Moreover, the epitope recognised by 3A1-La is important for the promastigote attachment to the insect vector midgut epithelium. These results further characterise 3A1-La(−) promastigotes as metacyclic forms of L. amazonensis.

Midgut muscle network in Lutzomyia longipalpis and Phlebotomus duboscqi sand flies: spatial organization and structural modification after blood meal

Sand flies are leishmaniasis vectors in vertebrates including man, from whom female flies get their blood meal to have their eggs developed. Hematophagy is an exclusive behavior of females, which have the blood meal stored and digested in their midgut. The physiology of sand fly alimentary tract greatly influences its vectorial capacity in transmitting diseases since the pathogens are ingested with the blood meal. We describe and compare the spatial organization and the modifications of the midgut muscle fibers after the blood meal process of two leishmaniasis vectors, Lutzomyia longipalpis and Phlebotomus duboscqi. Muscular components are placed in the entire midgut region as circular and longitudinal fibers forming a well-arranged muscle network. The muscle fibers are striated due to the alignment of the actin filaments demonstrated by Phalloidin labeling. The thoracic midguts do not distend after blood meal and do not change the arrangement of their muscle networks. On the other hand, abdominal midguts suffer several modifications in the muscle network organization, which appeared to be related to the blood meal passage. After the digestion of the blood meal has finished, the muscle fibers of the P. duboscqi midgut returned to a better-reorganized muscle network than those of L. longipalpis. Knowledge on the structure of the sand fly midgut muscles is important for a better understanding of the organ physiology and events accompanying disease transmission by these insects.

Characterization of a defensin from the sand fly Phlebotomus duboscqi induced by challenge with bacteria or the protozoan parasite Leishmania major.

Antimicrobial peptides are major components of the innate immune response of epithelial cells. In insect vectors, these peptides may play a role in the control of gut pathogens. We have analyzed antimicrobial peptides produced by the sand fly Phlebotomus duboscqi, after challenge by injected bacteria or feeding with bacteria or the protozoan parasite Leishmania major. A new hemolymph peptide with antimicrobial activity was identified and shown to be a member of the insect defensin family. Interestingly, this defensin exhibits an antiparasitic activity against the promastigote forms of L. major, which reside normally within the sand fly midgut. P. duboscqi defensin could be induced by both hemolymph or gut infections. Defensin mRNA was induced following infection by wild-type L. major, and this induction was much less following infections with L. major knockout mutants that survive poorly in sand flies, due to specific deficiencies in abundant cell surface glycoconjugates containing phosphoglycans (including lipophosphoglycan). The ability of gut pathogens to induce gut as well as fat body expression of defensin raises the possibility that this antimicrobial peptide might play a key role in the development of parasitic infections.

Leishmania parasites (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) reversibly inhibit visceral muscle contractions in hemimetabolous and holometabolous insects

Female sand flies can acquire protozoan parasites in the genus Leishmania when feeding on an infected vertebrate host. The parasites complete a complex growth cycle in the sand fly gut until they are transmitted by bite to another host. Recently, a myoinhibitory peptide was isolated from Leishmania major promastigotes. This peptide caused significant gut distension and reversible, dose-dependent inhibition of spontaneous hindgut contractions in the enzootic sand fly vector, Phlebotomus papatasi. The current study further characterizes myoinhibitory activity in L. major and other kinetoplastid parasites, using the P. papatasi hindgut and other insect organ preparations. Myoinhibitory activity was greatest in cultured promastigotes and in culture medium in late log-phase and early stationary-phase, coinciding with development of infective Leishmania morphotypes in the sand fly midgut. L. major promastigote lysates inhibited spontaneous contractions of visceral muscle preparations from hemimetabolous (Blattaria and Hemiptera) and holometabolous (Diptera) insects. Inhibition of visceral muscle contractions in three insect orders indicates a conserved mode of action. Myoinhibitory activity was detected also in Leishmania braziliensis braziliensis, a Sudanese strain of Leishmania donovani, and the kinetoplastid parasite Leptomonas seymouri. Protozoan-induced myoinhibition mimics the effect of insect myotropins. Inhibiting host gut contractions protects Leishmania parasites from being excreted after blood meal and peritrophic matrix digestion, allowing development and transmission of infective forms.