Lipophosphoglycan polymorphisms do not affect Leishmania amazonensis development in the permissive vectors Lutzomyia migonei and Lutzomyia longipalpis

Background: Lipophosphoglycan (LPG) is a dominant surface molecule of Leishmania promastigotes. Its species-specific polymorphisms are found mainly in the sugars that branch off the conserved Gal(beta 1,4) Man(alpha 1)-PO4 backbone of repeat units. Leishmania amazonensis is one of the most important species causing human cutaneous leishmaniasis in the New World. Here, we describe LPG intraspecific polymorphisms in two Le. amazonensis reference strains and their role during the development in three sand fly species. Results: Strains isolated from Lutzomyia flaviscutellata (PH8) and from a human patient (Josefa) displayed structural polymorphism in the LPG repeat units, possessing side chains with 1 and 2 beta-glucose or 1 to 3 beta-galactose, respectively. Both strains successfully infected permissive vectors Lutzomyia longipalpis and Lutzomyia migonei and could colonize their stomodeal valve and differentiate into metacyclic forms. Despite bearing terminal galactose residues on LPG, Josefa could not sustain infection in the restrictive vector Phlebotomus papatasi. Conclusions: LPG polymorphisms did not affect the ability of Le. amazonensis to develop late-stage infections in permissive vectors. However, the non-establishment of infection in Ph. papatasi by Josefa strain suggested other LPG-independent factors in this restrictive vector.Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento [CNPq PAPES VI 407438/2012-2]Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais [PPM-00102-16]Charles University [UNCE 204017/2012]Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo [FAPESP 2016-01917-3]Fiocruz MS, Inst Rene Rachou, Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilUniv Fed Minas Gerais, Dept Parasitol, Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilCharles Univ Prague, Fac Sci, Dept Parasitol, Prague, Czech RepublicUniv Kentucky, Med Ctr, Dept Biochem, Lexington, KY 40536 USAUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Farm, Lab Imunol Celular & Bioquim Fungos & Protozoario, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Farm, Lab Imunol Celular & Bioquim Fungos & Protozoario, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil[CNPq PAPES VI 407438/2012-2]Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais [PPM-00102-16]Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo [FAPESP 2016-01917-3]Web of Scienc