Muhammed Nalçacı1, Mehmet Karakuş2, Bahtiyar Yılmaz3, Samiye Demir1, Ahmet Özbilgin4, Yusuf Özbel5, Seray Töz5. 1. Ege University, Institute of Science, Division of Biology, Department of Zoology, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey. 2. University of Health Sciences, Health Sciences Institute, Biotechnology Department, Üsküdar, İstanbul, Turkey. 3. Ege University, Institute of Science, Division of Biology, Department of Microbiology, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey. 4. Manisa Celal Bayar University, Medical Faculty, Department of Parasitology, Manisa, Turkey. 5. Ege University, Medical Faculty, Department of Parasitology, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Leishmania RNA virus (LRV) is a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) virus infecting some Leishmania strains and triggering a destructive hyperinflammatory response in mammalian hosts in the New World. There is limited knowledge of the presence of this virus in Old World Leishmania species and its role in the outcome of the disease. We aimed to investigate the presence of LRV in Leishmania species/strains from Turkey. METHODS: Twenty-nine previously identified Leishmania isolates (24 L. tropica, 2 L. infantum, 3 L. major) were examined for LRV positivity using dsRNA visualization in agarose gel after total nucleic acid extraction and RQ-deoxyribonuclease treatment and amplification of a 526 bp fragment of the LRV2-specific RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Ten (7 L. tropica [24.13%], 3 L. major [10.34%]) of the 29 Leishmania strains gave positive results for LRV. Basic Local Alignment Search Tool analysis showed that all these viruses are LRV2-1. LRV2 was detected for the first time in L. tropica strains in the present study. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical manifestation and resistance status of the disease can be different depending on the host and parasite species/strains. The presence of LRV2 may be one of the factors contributing the course of disease. Further studies are needed to elucidate the specific role of LRV2, as it may be a potential target for effective treatment strategies.
BACKGROUND:Leishmania RNA virus (LRV) is a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) virus infecting some Leishmania strains and triggering a destructive hyperinflammatory response in mammalian hosts in the New World. There is limited knowledge of the presence of this virus in Old World Leishmania species and its role in the outcome of the disease. We aimed to investigate the presence of LRV in Leishmania species/strains from Turkey. METHODS: Twenty-nine previously identified Leishmania isolates (24 L. tropica, 2 L. infantum, 3 L. major) were examined for LRV positivity using dsRNA visualization in agarose gel after total nucleic acid extraction and RQ-deoxyribonuclease treatment and amplification of a 526 bp fragment of the LRV2-specific RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Ten (7 L. tropica [24.13%], 3 L. major [10.34%]) of the 29 Leishmania strains gave positive results for LRV. Basic Local Alignment Search Tool analysis showed that all these viruses are LRV2-1. LRV2 was detected for the first time in L. tropica strains in the present study. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical manifestation and resistance status of the disease can be different depending on the host and parasite species/strains. The presence of LRV2 may be one of the factors contributing the course of disease. Further studies are needed to elucidate the specific role of LRV2, as it may be a potential target for effective treatment strategies.
Authors: Helen Ashwin; Jovana Sadlova; Barbora Vojtkova; Tomas Becvar; Patrick Lypaczewski; Eli Schwartz; Elizabeth Greensted; Katrien Van Bocxlaer; Marion Pasin; Kai S Lipinski; Vivak Parkash; Greg Matlashewski; Alison M Layton; Charles J Lacey; Charles L Jaffe; Petr Volf; Paul M Kaye Journal: Nat Commun Date: 2021-01-11 Impact factor: 14.919
Authors: Paul Barrow; Jean Claude Dujardin; Nicolas Fasel; Alex D Greenwood; Klaus Osterrieder; George Lomonossoff; Pier Luigi Fiori; Robert Atterbury; Matteo Rossi; Marco Lalle Journal: Virol J Date: 2020-09-29 Impact factor: 4.099