Sand flies are the vectors of Leishmania parasites - and their saliva plays an important role in Leishmania infection development. Pre-exposure to sand fly bites can protect the host against disease development. The aim of the project is to characterize the immune response of repeatedly bitten host in relation to Leishmania infection.We will study the influence of short- and long-term exposure to sand fly bites on Leishmania infection development. The course of infection will be monitored by measuring the lesion size and by parasite quantification by PCR-ELISA. The status of host immunity will be characterized by measuring cytokine and chemokine production, anti-saliva antibodies, and the capability of macrophages to produce NO. The specificity of host immune response to certain sand fly species will be tested as well. The data will help to characterize the role of sand fly saliva in Leishmania transmission and possible utilization of sand fly saliva in transmission blocking vaccine. (en)
Na modelu myš kmene Balb/c-Phlebotomus duboscqi-Leishmania major chceme zjistit (1) vliv různě dlouhé imunizace sáním flebotomů na vývoj leishmaniové infekce a na stav imunitního systému hostitele a (2) specifitu imunitního systému imunizovaného hostitele vůči antigenům jiného druhu flebotoma.