Way to Combat Kala-Azar Discovered

Indian researchers have discovered a protein that is involved with the physiology of the parasite that causes kala-azar. Kala-azar is known medically as visceral leishmaniasis and commonly as black fever. It is the most severe form of leishmaniasis and is caused by a parasite called Leishmania donovani. The parasites are transported "through the bite of an infected female sandfly," Scidev.Net reported. Higher levels of cTXNPx, an enzyme that detoxifies peroxides, has been found to help L. donovani have dangerous, according to Jitesh P. Iyer and his co-workers from the National Institute of Immunology.

Immune cells of humans infected with L. donovani release hydrogen peroxide in response to the parasites. Higher levels of cTXNPx means that the parasites can endure higher levels of hydrogen peroxide, thus allowing them to have a greater resistance anti-leishmanial drugs. "This study provides a link between cTXNPx expression to survival, virulence and drug response in L. donovani," the researchers write in a paper published in the April issue of the journal Molecular Microbiology.

Kala-azar is endemic in four Indian states, infecting about 300,000 people and killing 20,000 each year. Worldwide, kala-azar is responsible for 60,000 deaths each year.

So, why is this important? Well, since it is the worst form of leishmaniasis, this information can be used to treat other forms of leishmaniasis, which is found in 88 countries. These 88 countries are populated by about 350 million people. In the Americas, leishmaniasis is found ranging from northern Argentina to southern Texas. Recently, it has been found in North Texas. Finally, many troops deployed to the Middle East have come in contact with the disease.

Links:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/HealthSci/Scientists_find_kala-azar_protein/articleshow/2987516.cms

For more information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leishmaniasis
http://www.cdc.gov/NCIDOD/DPD/parasites/leishmania/factsht_leishmania.htm#common