Susceptibility of clinical isolates of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis to antimonials: investigation of the possible correlation between therapeutic failure and resistance in vitro

• Grant number: 20/08030-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2021
• End date: January 10, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Adriano Cappellazzo Coelho
• Grantee: Beatriz Taine de Moraes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 16/21171-6 - Paromomycin for the treatment of Tegumentary Leishmaniasis: investigation in vitro, in vivo and in the identification of molecular markers associated with susceptibility and resistance, AP.JP

Abstract

Tegumentary leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan of the genus Leishmania that can be classified in three distinct clinical forms: localized, diffuse and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. In Brazil, there are at least seven species of the parasite that have already been associated with these clinical forms of the disease. Around 26.000 new cases of tegumentary leishmaniasis are reported annually in Brazil, which are mainly caused by L. (Viannia) braziliensis and L. (Leishmania) amazonensis, the latter being associated with the localized and diffuse cutaneous forms of the disease. Despite toxicity and parenteral administration, pentavalent antimonials are still the first line drug used in the chemotherapy of disease in Brazil. This project aims to assess the susceptibility to antimonials in vitro of clinical isolates of L. (L.) amazonensis obtained from patients with diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis that did not respond to treatment with pentavalent antimonial, as well as, isolates obtained from patients prior to treatment. The results of this study will allow us to assess whether there is a possible correlation between therapeutic failure and resistance of the parasite, determined by susceptibility assays. In addition, this study may identify potential isolates with low susceptibility to pentavalent antimonial, which can emerge as resistant lines in endemic areas of the disease. (AU)