INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES OF LEISHMANIA

四个相互关联的项目将集中在两种主要形式和病因上 新世界利什曼病的病原体。其中的前三项将解决 控制的主要制约因素，而后者将调查更基本的 问题。项目I将评估以实验室为基础的矢量能力 实验方案，并评估杀虫剂敏感性和 在实验室和实地研究中针对沙蝇媒介。此外, 共面传播和病媒-寄生虫相互作用的基本问题 将在该项目的背景下进行探索。在项目II中新增 技术选择将应用于被膜和结肠炎的诊断 内脏利什曼病。评估标准将基于 控制策略要求：敏感度、特异度、阳性 和阴性预测值、测试前和测试后的可能性、成本和 时间方面的考虑。项目三将调查机制和 致病的分子介质，包括特应性和易感性 具有临床表型的患者对巴西乳杆菌的耐药性 感染谱的极端情况。发病机制的平行研究 研究巴西乳杆菌在仓鼠感染中的作用 超敏反应及这些反应的调节剂 转移的发展，以及潜在的持续性的问题 利什曼病皮损愈合后。在项目IV中，寄生虫的毒力将 被研究。巴西乳杆菌核型和裂体的稳定性 在实验脊椎动物中进行有性重组的可能性 无脊椎动物的寄主，以及染色体外的性质和潜在作用 将对毒力中的DNA和菌株区分基因产物进行检测。

Four interrelated projects will focus on two major forms and etiologic agents of New World leishmaniasis. The first three of these will address major constraints to control while the latter will investigate more basic questions. Project I will assess vectorial capacity in laboratory-based experimental protocols, and evaluate insecticide susceptibility and targeting to sandfly vectors in laboratory and field studies. In addition, basic questions of sympatric transmission and vector-parasite interactions will be explored within the context of this project. In project II new technological options will be applied to the diagnosis of tegumentary and visceral leishmaniasis. Evaluation criteria will be based on the requirements for control strategies: sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, pre-test and post-test likelihood, cost and time considerations. Project III will investigate the mechanisms and molecular mediators of pathogenesis, including atopy, and susceptibility and resistance to L. braziliensis in patients with clinical phenotypes at the extremes of the infection spectrum. Parallel studies of pathogenesis of L. braziliensis infection in the hamster will examine the role of hypersensitivity reactions and modulators of these reactions on the development of metastases, and the question of latent persistence of Leishmania after healing of lesions. In Project IV parasite virulence will be studied. The stability of L. braziliensis karyotype and schizodeme and the possibility of sexual recombination in experimental vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, and the nature and potential role of extrachromosomal DNA and strain-distinguishing gene products in virulence will examined.