Iron and Heme Metabolism at the Leishmania-Host Interface

Author(s)

Laranjeira-Silva, Maria Fernanda ^[1] ; Hamza, Iqbal ^[2] ; Perez-Victoria, Jose M. ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biosci, Dept Physiol, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Maryland, Dept Cell Biol & Mol Genet, Dept Anim & Avian Sci, College Pk, MD 20742 - USA

^[3] CSIC, PTS Granada, IPBLN, Inst Parasitol & Biomed Lopez Neyra, Granada - Spain

• Document type: Review article
• Source: Trends in Parasitology; v. 36, n. 3, p. 279-289, MAR 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Species of the protozoan Leishmania are causative agents of human leishmaniasis, a disease that results in significant death, disability, and disfigurement around the world. The parasite is transmitted to a mammalian host by a sand fly vector where it develops as an intracellular parasite within macrophages. This process requires the acquisition of nutritional iron and heme from the host as Leishmania lacks the capacity for de novo heme synthesis and does not contain cytosolic iron-storage proteins. Proteins involved in Leishmania iron and heme transport and metabolism have been identified and shown to be crucial for the parasite's growth and replication within the host. Consequently, a detailed understanding of how these parasites harness host pathways for survival may lay the foundation for promising new therapeutic intervention against leishmaniasis. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/23933-3 - Identification and characterization of membrane proteins involved in iron transport and metabolism in Leishmania
• Grantee: Maria Fernanda Laranjeira da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants