The impact of arginase activity on virulence factors of Leishmania amazonensis. (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aoki, Juliana Ide; Laranjeira-Silva, Maria Fernanda; Muxel, Sandra Marcia; Floeter-Winter, Lucile Maria
• Is Part Of: Current opinion in microbiology. Volume 52(2019)
• Page Start: 110
• Page End: 115
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2019.06.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-5274

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Arginase activity modulates the expression of virulence factors. Arginase upregulates membrane markers that impact parasite recognition. Arginase upregulates autophagy-related genes implicated in parasite differentiation. Arginase modulates oxidative-stress related genes that interfere with redox balance. Arginase upregulates amastins that impact amastigote replication and survival. Abstract : The outcome of Leishmania infection depends on the parasite species and the host immune response. Virulence factors have been extensively studied over the years in an effort to find efficient vaccines and/or treatments for Leishmania infection. Arginase activity in Leishmania has been described as an essential player for the polyamines pathway, impacting parasite replication and infectivity. Considering previous studies showing that the absence of arginase activity leads to low infectivity of Leishmania amazonensis, we reanalyzed transcriptomic data comparing both promastigotes and axenic amastigotes from L. amazonensis wild type ( La -WT) and L. amazonensis arginase knockout ( La -arg − ) backgrounds. The analysis produced a new compilation of modulated transcripts that indicated the role of arginase not only in the polyamines pathway but also in the modulation of virulence factors involved in parasite recognition, growth and differentiation.