Construction and Characterization of a Genetically Modified Leishmania to Constitutively Express The Fluorescent Protein Yellow Cameleon-nano50: A Tool for AntiLeishmanial Compounds Screening that Might Interfer in the Parasite Calcium Homeostasis

• Grant number: 24/23195-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Marcia Aparecida Silva Graminha
• Grantee: Laura Aquino Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is a vector borne disease caused by several species of protozoa belonging to the genus Leishmania. Leishmaniasis present diverse clinical manifestations and are considered a public health issue in the world, with Brazil being an endemic country in the region. Currently the few available drugs for the treatment of Leishmaniasis are associated with severe side effects, high toxicity, teratogenicity and difficult route of administration. The Ca2+ signaling mechanisms haves been considered as interesting target for therapeutic action, since the ion's homeostasis is involved in important processes in the parasite's metabolism and infectivity. The evaluation of these compounds requires functional assays such the use of fluorimetric methods. Thus, the main goal of this proposal is to generate a transgenic strain of Leishmania amazonensis that constitutively express the Ca2+ indicator Yellow Cameleon-nano50, aiming its future application in drug evaluation studies that interfere with the metal's homeostasis.