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Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a protozoal disease caused by species of the genus Leishmania and transmitted through the bite of infected female sandflies. The parasite exists in two principal morphological forms during its life cycle. A sandfly acquires intracellular amastigotes from an infected reservoir host, such as a dog. Within the sandfly, these forms differentiate into motile, flagellated promastigotes. During a subsequent blood meal, promastigotes are injected into the human host, where they...

Mechanism of Filopodia Formation

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Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation

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Flagella and Motility in Bacteria

Flagella and Motility in Bacteria

Flagella are specialized, thread-like structures that extend from a bacteria's cell envelope. They play a crucial role in motility and chemotaxis. Their structural organization and functioning exemplify sophisticated biological engineering, enabling bacterial survival and adaptability in diverse environments.Structure of the FlagellumA bacterial flagellum consists of three key components: the filament, the hook, and basal body. The filament, a long, helical structure composed of repeating...

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Antiprotozoal Agents

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Leishmaniasis is a widespread parasitic disease caused by several Leishmania species. It affects millions of people each year and remains a major public health problem in endemic regions. First-line treatment relies on pentavalent antimonials, including meglumine antimoniate and sodium stibogluconate. Even so, how these drugs work has not been fully clear, especially their interaction with parasite-specific biochemical pathways. One key target is trypanothione reductase (TR), an enzyme that...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Investigating the Phagocytosis of Leishmania using Confocal Microscopy

Investigating the Phagocytosis of Leishmania using Confocal Microscopy

Published on: July 29, 2021

Flagellum assembly and function during the Leishmania life cycle.

Eva Gluenz¹, Michael L Ginger, Paul G McKean

¹Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK.

Current Opinion in Microbiology

|June 15, 2010

Summary

Leishmania parasites change forms during their life cycle, with recent studies highlighting the crucial, often overlooked, roles of the amastigote flagellum in parasite survival within host cells.

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Area of Science:

Parasitology
Cell Biology
Molecular Biology

Background:

Leishmania parasites exhibit digenetic life cycles, alternating between promastigote and amastigote forms.
These life cycle stages display distinct cellular morphologies and flagellum lengths.
The promastigote flagellum's role is well-established, but the amastigote flagellum's function has been less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the underappreciated roles of the amastigote flagellum in Leishmania.
To explore the importance of flagellum regulation in parasite adaptation and survival.

Main Methods:

Analysis of gene expression related to flagellum assembly.
Comparative studies of flagellum length regulation between life cycle stages.
Investigation of amastigote flagellum function in host cell interactions.

Main Results:

Leishmania parasites dynamically regulate gene expression for flagellum assembly and length modification.
The amastigote flagellum, previously considered rudimentary, plays vital roles.
These roles include cellular organization and sensory perception critical for intracellular survival.

Conclusions:

The amastigote flagellum is essential for Leishmania's intracellular survival within macrophages.
Understanding flagellum regulation provides insights into parasite adaptation and host-pathogen interactions.
Further research into the amastigote flagellum's functions is warranted.