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Kinetoplastids: related protozoan pathogens, different diseases
Ken Stuart, … , Steve Reed, Rick Tarleton
Ken Stuart, … , Steve Reed, Rick Tarleton
Published April 1, 2008
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2008;118(4):1301-1310. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI33945.
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Review Series

Kinetoplastids: related protozoan pathogens, different diseases

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Abstract

Kinetoplastids are a group of flagellated protozoans that include the species Trypanosoma and Leishmania, which are human pathogens with devastating health and economic effects. The sequencing of the genomes of some of these species has highlighted their genetic relatedness and underlined differences in the diseases that they cause. As we discuss in this Review, steady progress using a combination of molecular, genetic, immunologic, and clinical approaches has substantially increased understanding of these pathogens and important aspects of the diseases that they cause. Consequently, the paths for developing additional measures to control these “neglected diseases” are becoming increasingly clear, and we believe that the opportunities for developing the drugs, diagnostics, vaccines, and other tools necessary to expand the armamentarium to combat these diseases have never been better.

Authors

Ken Stuart, Reto Brun, Simon Croft, Alan Fairlamb, Ricardo E. Gürtler, Jim McKerrow, Steve Reed, Rick Tarleton

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Figure 3

Life cycle of Leishmania spp.

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Life cycle of Leishmania spp.
               
Infection with different s...
Infection with different species of Leishmania causes distinct forms of leishmaniasis. For example, VL is caused by infection with either L. infantum or L. donovani; whereas CL is caused by infection with any one of several different Leishmania spp. Sandflies are the vectors that transmit the disease-causing protozoan parasites, injecting infective promastigotes when they take a blood meal. The parasites invade mammalian macrophages by receptor-mediated endocytosis, where they transform into amastigotes that multiply by binary fission. Sandflies become infected by ingesting infected cells when they take a meal of parasite-containing blood from an infected human or animal. The amastigotes transform into promastigotes and develop in the gut into metacyclic promastigotes that are infective to humans. Figure modified with permission from Alexander J. da Silva and Melanie Moser, Centers for Disease Control Public Health Image Library.

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ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)

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