Gels and cells: the Leishmania biofilm as a space and place for parasite transmission
Metadatos
Afficher la notice complèteEditorial
Cell Press
Materia
Leishmania biofilm sand fly
Date
2024-10-02Referencia bibliográfica
E. Rogers, M. & de Pablos Torró, L.M. & D. Sunter, J. Trends in Parasitology, October 2024, Vol. 40, No. 10 [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2024.08.001]
Patrocinador
BBSRC, MRC, and NERC; Spanish Programme for Knowledge Generation and Scientific and Technological Strengthening of the R+D+I System, grant PID2021-126938OB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by ‘ERDF/EU’Résumé
Leishmania make an abundant glycoprotein and proteophosphoglycan-rich
gel, called the promastigote secretory gel, in the anterior midgut of their sand
fly vector. This gel is a multi-faceted virulence factor which promotes the survival
and transmission of the parasites between hosts. Here, we present the case that
Leishmania parasites embedded in the promastigote secretory gel should be
redefined as a biofilm as it shares striking similarities in biogenesis, form, and
function with biofilms of other unicellular organisms. We believe that this reinterpretation
will stimulate new hypotheses and avenues of research to improve our
understanding of the developmental programme of Leishmania and the interaction
these parasites and other kinetoplastids have with their insect hosts.