The role of promastigote secretory gel in the origin and transmission of the infective stage of Leishmania mexicana by the sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis

Rogers, M E and Chance, M L and Bates, P A (2002) The role of promastigote secretory gel in the origin and transmission of the infective stage of Leishmania mexicana by the sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis. Parasitology, 124 (5). pp. 495-507. ISSN 0031-1820

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Abstract

Transmission of leishmaniasis is effected by a specific developmental stage, the metacyclic promastigote. The precursors of metacyclic promastigotes were a distinct subpopulation of parasites, identified for the first time as a new stage in the life-cycle and named leptomonad promastigotes. Microdissection of infected sandflies into 4 midgut regions and foregut allowed precursor-product relationships to be established for amastigote-procyclic promastigote, procyclic-nectomonad promastigote, nectomonad-leptomonad promastigote and leptomonad-metacyclic promastigote developmental switches. Metacyclic promastigotes occurred mainly in the thoracic midgut and cardia, coincident with the accumulation of a promastigote secretory gel (PSG) plug in these anterior regions. The gel-like plug was isolated from flies with mature infections and found to contain predominantly leptomonad promastigotes. The PSG plug also contained the majority (75%) of the total metacyclic promastigote population in the sandflies, which were concentrated at the anterior pole. The PSG plug was found to be the main site of metacyclogenesis, and acted as a reservoir of leptomonad promastigotes from which metacyclic forms differentiated and migrated forward to promote the infective potential of the fly. The PSG plug occluded and distorted the midgut, forcing the stomodeal valve open and affecting the feeding success of the sandflies, such that they experienced difficulty in taking a full meal. Collectively, these data support the role of the PSG in the transmission of leishmaniasis, by conditioning the midgut environment for metacyclogenesis and altering the feeding ability of infected sandflies.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Parasitology
Additional Information:
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=PAR The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Parasitology, 124 (5), pp 495-507 2002, © 2002 Cambridge University Press.
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/core/keywords/biologicalsciences/biomedicalandlifesciences
Subjects:
?? leishmaniasandfly metacyclic promastigote promastigote secretory gel (psg) transmissionbiomedical and life sciencesinfectious diseasesanimal science and zoologyparasitologyqr355 virology ??
ID Code:
56027
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
20 Jul 2012 11:02
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
31 Dec 2023 00:25