American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ATL): identification of causative species using molecular techniques targeting ITS1 and HSP70 genes

• Grant number: 19/19375-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2020
• End date: December 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Public Health
• Principal Investigator: Lúcia Maria Almeida Braz
• Grantee: Lúcia Maria Almeida Braz
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: José Angelo Lauletta Lindoso ; Manoel Sebastião da Costa Lima Junior

Abstract

American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ACL) is an infectious, chronic, non-contagious disease of cutaneous manifestation caused by the protozoan genus Leishmania, being a common zoonosis in humans and animals and a serious public health problem in many countries. The development of efficient protocols for the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis is fundamental for the treatment of the disease; In this scenario, PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) stands out because it is a simple technique, with greater specificity and sensitivity than conventional diagnostic methods, and can be performed from any biological sample. Objective: Analyse the molecular techniques by PCR-RFLP and PCR-sequencing, targeting the genes ITS-1 and Hsp70, in the diagnosis by species of American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ACL). Methodology: Biopsy well founded from patients with suspected ACL from the Institute of Infectious Diseases Emílio Ribas and FIOCRUZ of Pernambuco will have the extracted DNA submitted to the conventional PCR technique (targeting the genes ITS-1 and HSP70), RFLP tracking and amplification sequencing was obtained. In this way, the diagnosis of ACL and the definition capacity of ACL causing species will be evaluated by the referred techniques. (AU)