|
|
Experimental animal models and vectors of Leishmania (Mundinia)
Bečvář, Tomáš
Leishmania are vector-borne dixenous protozoan parasites of vertebrates causing diseases collectively called leishmaniases, which threaten more than 1 billion people mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. These parasites are divided into four subgenera: Leishmania, Viannia, Sauroleishmania, and Mundinia. The last named are geographically widely dispersed and their distribution covers all continents except Antarctica. Although their medical and veterinary importance is increasing, there is currently almost no information on natural reservoir hosts, vector species, and experimental research options due to the very limited range of model animals. This thesis summarizes our efforts to unravel possible vectors and laboratory models for this subgenus. In the first three studies, we focused on potential models; therefore, we experimentally infected guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), BALB/c mice, Chinese hamsters (Cricetulus griseus), and steppe lemmings (Lagurus lagurus) with five species of Mundinia and we also tested reservoir potential of African grass rat (Arvicanthis niloticus) and Natal multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis) to Leishmania chancei. The second part focused on potential vectors of the parasites. We experimentally infected biting midges Culicoides sonorensis and sand flies sharing...
|
|
|
Experimental animal models and vectors of Leishmania (Mundinia)
Bečvář, Tomáš ; Sádlová, Jovana (advisor) ; Courtenay, Orin (referee) ; Soares Maia, Carla Alexandra (referee)
Leishmania are vector-borne dixenous protozoan parasites of vertebrates causing diseases collectively called leishmaniases, which threaten more than 1 billion people mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. These parasites are divided into four subgenera: Leishmania, Viannia, Sauroleishmania, and Mundinia. The last named are geographically widely dispersed and their distribution covers all continents except Antarctica. Although their medical and veterinary importance is increasing, there is currently almost no information on natural reservoir hosts, vector species, and experimental research options due to the very limited range of model animals. This thesis summarizes our efforts to unravel possible vectors and laboratory models for this subgenus. In the first three studies, we focused on potential models; therefore, we experimentally infected guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), BALB/c mice, Chinese hamsters (Cricetulus griseus), and steppe lemmings (Lagurus lagurus) with five species of Mundinia and we also tested reservoir potential of African grass rat (Arvicanthis niloticus) and Natal multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis) to Leishmania chancei. The second part focused on potential vectors of the parasites. We experimentally infected biting midges Culicoides sonorensis and sand flies sharing...
|
|
|
Gene engineering methods in Leishmania research
Kriegová, Gabriela ; Bečvář, Tomáš (advisor) ; Arbonová, Lenka (referee)
Gene engineering methods are now increasingly used in the study of leishmania. These modern DNA technologies make it possible to manipulate with the genome of organisms, allowing it to be altered and repaired. The most important methods include CRISPR/Cas9, RNA interference (RNAi), dimerizable Cre recombinase (DiCre), plasmid shuffle and gene tagging. The choice of method depends on whether essential or non-essential genes are being studied as well as the reason of the study. These methods investigate leishmania using a reverse genetics approach that allows the phenotype to be studied. This work summarizes the current knowledge on the use of gene engineering methods in Leishmania, the necessary modifications of the procedures and discusses their limitations and advantages.
|
|
|
Leishmania of the subgenus Mundinia: genetical analysis and experimental infections of rodents and vectors.
Bečvář, Tomáš ; Sádlová, Jovana (advisor) ; Modrý, David (referee)
Leishmaniasis is a human and animal disease caused by digenetic parasites of the genus Leishmania, which is now divided into 4 subgenera - L. (Leishmania), L. (Viannia), L. (Sauroleishmania) and L. (Mundinia). Subgenus Mundinia was established in 2016 and consists of 5 species - L. enriettii and L. macropodum are parasites of wild mammals and L. martiniquensis, L. orientalis and unnamed L. sp. from Ghana are infectious to humans. Mundinia are geographically widely dispersed, their distribution covers all continents, except of Antarctica. Despite phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) also biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are supposed to be involved in transmission of these species, which is a unique feature for this subgenus. But there is little to no current information on natural reservoir hosts and vector species for any Mundinia species. In this thesis we tested possible vectors and potential model organisms (Guinea-pigs) and reservoir hosts of Mundinia species by experimental infections. We used 3 sand fly species sharing geographical distribution with respective Mundinia species and available in our laboratory for experimental infections. Sand flies from Australia had never been colonised so we used the permissive vector Lu. migonei for testing development of L. macropodum....
|
|
|
Biology of Leishmania enriettii species complex.
Bečvář, Tomáš ; Sádlová, Jovana (advisor) ; Spitzová, Tatiana (referee)
vytvořený v roce 2016, ve kterém je zařazeno 5 druhů leishmanií - pouze divokých druhů savců, zatímco druhy "L. siamensis" . izolovaná v Ghaně mají potenciál infikovat i člověka. Areál rozšíření těchto druhů je velmi široký a zasahuje do všech kontinentů světa kromě Antarktidy, čemuž odpovídá i neobvyklá hostitelů a přenašečů onemocnění. Mezi vektory patří nejen flebotomové dvoukřídlý krevsající hmyz čele i tiplíci (Diptera: což je v rámci rodu zcela unikátní Škála zvířat, ze kterých byli zástupci podrodu izolováni je široká, od ů í či dobytka po hlodavce, ale skutečné doklady o jejich rezervoárové roli chybí. Mnohé otázky, zejména přesná identita rezervoárových zvířat a přenašečů, musí být zodpovězeny, než pochopíme unikátního Klíčová slova: leishmanióza, "Leishmania siamensis" , leishmanióza koní, fylogeneze, agbamekanu
|
guest ::
