Central carbon metabolism ofLeishmaniaparasites

Abstract

SUMMARYLeishmaniaspp. are sandfly-transmitted protozoa parasites that cause a spectrum of diseases in humans. Many enzymes involved inLeishmaniacentral carbon metabolism differ from their equivalents in the mammalian host and are potential drug targets. In this review we summarize recent advances in our understanding ofLeishmaniacentral carbon metabolism, focusing on pathways of carbon utilization that are required for growth and pathogenesis in the mammalian host. WhileLeishmaniacentral carbon metabolism shares many features in common with other pathogenic trypanosomatids, significant differences are also apparent.Leishmaniaparasites are also unusual in constitutively expressing most core metabolic pathways throughout their life cycle, a feature that may allow these parasites to exploit a range of different carbon sources (primarily sugars and amino acids) rapidly in both the insect vector and vertebrate host. Indeed, recent gene deletion studies suggest that mammal-infective stages are dependent on multiple carbon sourcesin vivo. The application of metabolomic approaches, outlined here, are likely to be important in defining aspects of central carbon metabolism that are essential at different stages of mammalian host infection.