Identification of putative lncRNAs expressed by two strains of Leishmania infantum (BOS1FL1 and BCN150) during in vitro infection of canine macrophages

• Grant number: 24/23538-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Flavia Lombardi Lopes
• Grantee: Bruno Mendes Ceneviva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FMVA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araçatuba. Araçatuba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is a zoonosis transmitted by sand flies of the genus Lutzomyia, prevalent in developing countries and recognized as a global public health problem due to its high morbidity and mortality. Ecological and environmental changes, mainly of anthropogenic origin, have contributed significantly to the spread of the disease. Visceral leishmaniasis is the most severe form of the disease, and the main etiological agent in Brazil is Leishmania infantum. During infection, macrophages play an essential role, since the parasite is able to replicate in the cell. In 2012, in the city of Madrid, Spain, the BOS1FL1 strain of Leishmania infantum was identified as a result of an epidemiological outbreak. To better understand it, its properties were compared to those of the widely characterized and known BCN150 strain. Studies revealed differences in immune responses in different hosts, indicating variations in the mechanisms of infection between strains. In this context, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can participate in genetic and epigenetic processes during infection, and one of the mechanisms of action is through interaction with host RNAs. Although lncRNAs have been identified in L. braziliensis, their functions during infection remain unknown. Therefore, this project aims to identify and explore the functions of L. infantum lncRNAs during in vitro infection of canine macrophages through bioinformatics analyses, contributing to the understanding of infection mechanisms and the potential development of new therapeutic approaches.