Abstract

The purpose of this study is to continue to characterize a virus we have discovered in Leishmania braziliensis. Leishmania is an important human pathogen, the causative agent of leishmaniasis. The study of bacteriophages and viruses has provided important leads in our understanding of the control of gene expression, RNA processing and translation. These considerations highlight the potential value of a Leishmania virus for the study of unique gene regulation and expression mechanisms in kinetoplastid parasites. Specifically we would propose to: 1) Begin to understand the intimate relationship of the virus with the parasite. 2) Continue to investigate the replicative and translational strategy of the virus. 3) Attempt to infect other strains of Leishmania. 4) Use this virus as a vector. 5) Exploit this system as an experimental model for studying the translational mechanisms of Leishmania.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01AI028473-01A4
Application #
3143011
Study Section
Microbial Physiology and Genetics Subcommittee 2 (MBC)
Project Start
1992-04-01
Project End
1995-03-31
Budget Start
1992-04-01
Budget End
1993-03-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
Children's Hospital Boston
Department
Type
DUNS #
076593722
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115

  Publications

Ogg, Monica M; Carrion Jr, Ricardo; Botelho, Ana Cristina de Carvalho et al. (2003) Short report: quantification of leishmaniavirus RNA in clinical samples and its possible role in pathogenesis. Am J Trop Med Hyg 69:309-13
Saiz, M; Ro, Y T; Wirth, D F et al. (1999) Host cell proteins bind specifically to the capsid-cleaved 5' end of Leishmaniavirus RNA. J Biochem 126:538-44
Chung, I K; Armstrong, T C; Scheffter, S M et al. (1998) Generation of the short RNA transcript in Leishmaniavirus correlates with the growth of its parasite host, Leishmania. Mol Cells 8:54-61
MacBeth, K J; Patterson, J L (1998) Overview of the Leishmaniavirus endoribonuclease and functions of other endoribonucleases affecting viral gene expression. J Exp Zool 282:254-60
Ro, Y T; Scheffter, S M; Patterson, J L (1997) Hygromycin B resistance mediates elimination of Leishmania virus from persistently infected parasites. J Virol 71:8991-8
Ro, Y T; Scheffter, S M; Patterson, J L (1997) Specific in vitro cleavage of a Leishmania virus capsid-RNA-dependent RNA polymerase polyprotein by a host cysteine-like protease. J Virol 71:8983-90
MacBeth, K J; Patterson, J L (1995) Single-site cleavage in the 5'-untranslated region of Leishmaniavirus RNA is mediated by the viral capsid protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 92:8994-8
Scheffter, S M; Ro, Y T; Chung, I K et al. (1995) The complete sequence of Leishmania RNA virus LRV2-1, a virus of an Old World parasite strain. Virology 212:84-90
MacBeth, K J; Patterson, J L (1995) The short transcript of Leishmania RNA virus is generated by RNA cleavage. J Virol 69:3458-64
Cadd, T L; MacBeth, K; Furlong, D et al. (1994) Mutational analysis of the capsid protein of Leishmania RNA virus LRV1-4. J Virol 68:7738-45

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