Evaluation of infectivity and production of inflammatory mediators induced by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi causative of atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis

• Grant number: 24/20115-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Felipe Domingues Passero
• Grantee: Lucilly Luiza Santos
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB-CLP). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus Experimental do Litoral Paulista. São Vicente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Currently, leishmaniasis is considered a priority zoonosis for the World Health Organization (WHO), present in both visceral (VL) and cutaneous forms, depending on the parasite species. In South America, VL is caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi, which affects internal organs such as the spleen and liver, causing VL. On the other hand, the same species in Honduras, besides causing classical VL, is also the etiological agent of the non-ulcerated cutaneous leishmaniasis (NUCL). However, the mechanism by which the parasite from Honduras remains and proliferates in the host cells is still unknown. Therefore, the present project intends to evaluate the infectivity of L. infantum chagasi isolated from a patient with NUCL to human macrophages of the THP-1 cell line and measure the levels of hydrogen peroxide, TNF-¿, IL-10 and TGF- ¿ produced by such infected cells. The same parameters will be compared with data obtained from Brazilian strains of L. (V.) chagasi that cause visceral disease. Additionally, the frequency of infected macrophages positive for PD-1 and PD-L1 markers will be evaluated.