Expression of LPG and GP63 by different developmental stages ofLeishmania majorin the sandflyPhlebotomus papatasi

Abstract

SUMMARYDevelopment and forward migration ofLeishmaniaparasites in the sandfly gut is accompanied by morphological transformation to highly motile, non-dividing ‘metacyclic’ forms. Previous studiesin vitrohave demonstrated that this metacyclogenesis is associated with developmentally regulated changes in expression of two major surface glycoconjugates ofLeishmania, the lipophosphoglycan (LPG) and the glycoprotein protease GP63. Studies presented here are the first to examinein situthe changes in expression of these two important surface molecules which occur during amastigote-initiated development ofL. majorin its natural vectorPhlebotomus papatasi. Immunocytochemical analysis using a GP63-specific monoclonal (3.8). and others recognizing metacyclic-specific (3F12) and common (WIC79.3) epitopes of LPG on logarithmic and metacyclic promastigotes, demonstrates: (1) clear expression of LPG and GP63 from 2 and 7 days post-bloodfeeding, respectively; (2) developmental modification of the LPG molecule as parasites undergo forward migration and morphological changes associated with metacyclogenesis; and (3) striking deposition of large amounts of parasite-free excreted LPG on/in the epithelial cells of the gut wall.