Abstract

The objective of this project is to study the biology of human pathogenic Leishmania in their phlebolomine sand fly vectors. The project involves the disciplines of parasitology, medical entomology, genetics, biochemistry and immunology. Laboratory-reared sand flies will be experimentally infected with a number of different Leishmania types and the following aspects of the parasites' biology in the insects will be studied: (1) the growth rate and development of the parasites within the sand fly gut, (2) the possibility of genetic exchange among Leishmania in the insect vector, (3) the mechanisms of sand fly susceptibility and resistance to leishmania infection, and (4) how the parasites attach and maintain themselves within the sand fly gut. Recently developed lines of the sand fly Phlebotomus papatasi, which are highly susceptible and refractory to L. major infection, will be utilized in this work. Collaborative research with scientists at Harvard University and the University of Alaska will be continued on other aspects of the biology of this vector-parasite interaction.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI021049-08
Application #
3130959
Study Section
Bacteriology and Mycology Subcommittee 2 (BM)
Project Start
1984-07-01
Project End
1995-06-30
Budget Start
1991-07-01
Budget End
1992-06-30
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
Yale University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
082359691
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06520

  Publications

Mukhopadhyay, J; Ghosh, K (1999) Vector potential of Phlebotomus duboscqi and P. papatasi: a comparison of feeding behaviour, reproductive capacity and experimental infection with Leishmania major. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 93:309-18
Ghosh, K N; Mukhopadhyay, J M; Guzman, H et al. (1999) Interspecific hybridization and genetic variability of Phlebotomus sandflies. Med Vet Entomol 13:78-88
Munstermann, L E; Morrison, A C; Ferro, C et al. (1998) Genetic structure of local populations of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) in central Colombia. J Med Entomol 35:82-9
Mukhopadhyay, J; Ghosh, K; Rangel, E F et al. (1998) Genetic variability in biochemical characters of Brazilian field populations of the Leishmania vector, Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae). Am J Trop Med Hyg 59:893-901
Ghosh, K N; Mukhopadhyay, J (1998) The effect of anti-sandfly saliva antibodies on Phlebotomus argentipes and Leishmania donovani. Int J Parasitol 28:275-81
Mukhopadhyay, J; Rangel, E F; Ghosh, K et al. (1997) Patterns of genetic variability in colonized strains of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) and its consequences. Am J Trop Med Hyg 57:216-21
Ferro, C; Pardo, R; Torres, M et al. (1997) Larval microhabitats of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) in an endemic focus of visceral leishmaniasis in Colombia. J Med Entomol 34:719-28
Franco, A M; Tesh, R B; Guzman, H et al. (1997) Development of Endotrypanum (Kinetoplastida:Trypanosomatidae) in experimentally infected phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera:Psychodidae). J Med Entomol 34:189-92
Ferro, C; Morrison, A C; Torres, M et al. (1995) Age structure, blood-feeding behavior, and Leishmania chagasi infection in Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) at an endemic focus of visceral leishmaniasis in Colombia. J Med Entomol 32:618-29
Walters, L L; Irons, K P; Guzman, H et al. (1995) Peritrophic envelopes of Lutzomyia spinicrassa (Diptera: Psychodidae). J Med Entomol 32:711-25

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