Immunopathogenical mechanisms involved in the evolution of experimental and human American tegumentar Leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonenzis

• Grant number: 01/00240-4
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2001
• End date: October 31, 2006
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Eduardo Pereira Corbett
• Grantee: Carlos Eduardo Pereira Corbett
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonenzis, transmitted by Lu. flaviscutellata, causes a wide spectrum of tegumentar disease in humans. Up to now, there is insufficient knowledge about human and experimental infections caused by Leishmania (L.) amazonenzis concerning to different clinical manifestations and to inespecific and specific factors that could be involved in determining susceptibility and resistance to this infection. Our project aims to elucidate some immunopathogenic mechanisms in the American tegumentar leishmaniasis (ATL) caused by Leishmania (L.) amazonenzis both in humans and in experimental models as well as by in vitro experiments trying to establish: - the clinical- pathological spectrum of the disease based on clinical, histopathological, parasitological and immunopathological aspects; - the role of Leishmania (L.) amazonenzis in determing the distinct clinical forms of ATL through the in vitro and in vivo behaviour of strains isolated from patients presenting cutaneous leishmaniasis, borderline disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis and diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis; - the effect of Natural Killer (NK) cells on mice peritoneal macrophages infected by Leishmania (L.) amazonenzis; - the effect of salivary gland in resistant mice inoculated with Leishmania (L.) amazonenzis analysing the histhopathological and immunological sequencial events in the inoculation site and in the draining lymph nodes. (AU)