@article{KarakuşNasereddinOnayetal.2017, author = {Karaku{\c{s}}, Mehmet and Nasereddin, Abed and Onay, H{\"u}seyin and Karaca, Emin and {\"O}zkeklik{\c{c}}i, Ahmet and Jaffe, Charles L. and Kuhls, Katrin and {\"O}zbilgin, Ahmet and Ertabaklar, Hatice and Demir, Samiye and {\"O}zbel, Yusuf and T{\"o}z, Seray}, title = {Epidemiological analysis of Leishmania tropica strains and giemsa-stained smears from Syrian and Turkish leishmaniasis patients using multilocus microsatellite typing (MLMT)}, series = {PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases}, volume = {11}, journal = {PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases}, number = {4}, issn = {1935-2735}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0005538}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:526-opus4-9313}, pages = {12}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Turkey is located in an important geographical location, in terms of the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases, linking Asia and Europe. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is one of the endemic diseases in a Turkey and according to the Ministry Health of Turkey, 45\% of CL patients originate from Şanl{\i}urfa province located in southeastern Turkey. Herein, the epidemiological status of CL, caused by L. tropica, in Turkey was examined using multilocus microsatellite typing (MLMT) of strains obtained from Turkish and Syrian patients. A total of 38 cryopreserved strains and 20 Giemsa-stained smears were included in the present study. MLMT was performed using 12 highly specific microsatellite markers. Delta K (ΔK) calculation and Bayesian statistics were used to determine the population structure. Three main populations (POP A, B and C) were identified and further examination revealed the presence of three subpopulations for POP B and C. Combined analysis was performed using the data of previously typed L. tropica strains and Mediterranean and Şanl{\i}urfa populations were identified. This finding suggests that the epidemiological status of L. tropica is more complicated than expected when compared to previous studies. A new population, comprised of Syrian L. tropica samples, was reported for the first time in Turkey, and the data presented here will provide new epidemiological information for further studies.}, language = {en} } @article{AmroAlDwibeGashoutetal.2017, author = {Amro, Ahmad and Al-Dwibe, Hamida and Gashout, Aisha and Moskalenko, Olga and Galafin, Marlena and Hamarsheh, Omar and Frohme, Marcus and Jaeschke, Anja and Sch{\"o}nian, Gabriele and Kuhls, Katrin}, title = {Spatiotemporal and molecular epidemiology of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Libya}, series = {PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases}, volume = {11}, journal = {PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases}, number = {9}, issn = {1935-2735}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0005873}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:526-opus4-10054}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a skin infection caused by a single-celled parasite that is transmitted by the bite of a phlebotomine sandfly. CL is the most common form of leishmaniasis characterized by localized lesions in the skin and mucous membranes. The disease is prevalent in all countries around the Mediterranean Basin. In this paper, we describe spatiotemporal and eco-epidemiological parameters of CL in Libya. Moreover, we explored current spatiotemporal distributions of CL cases and explored the future projection of the disease. Our study indicates the presence of higher risk of CL in the coastal regions of Libya. Future projection until 2060 showed a trend of increasing incidence of CL in the north-western part of Libya, a spread along the coastal region and a possible emergence of new endemics in the north-eastern districts of Libya. These scenarios should be considered by health authorities in order to develop appropriate intervention strategies and plan effective control programs.}, language = {en} } @article{AkhoundiDowningVotypkaetal.2017, author = {Akhoundi, Mohammad and Downing, Tim and Vot{\´y}pka, Jan and Kuhls, Katrin and Lukeš, Julius and Cannet, Arnaud and Ravel, Christophe and Marty, Pierre and Delaunay, Pascal and Kasbari, Mohamed and Granouillac, Bruno and Gradoni, Luigi and Sereno, Denis}, title = {Leishmania infections: Molecular targets and diagnosis}, series = {Molecular Aspects of Medicine}, volume = {57}, journal = {Molecular Aspects of Medicine}, issn = {0098-2997}, doi = {10.1016/j.mam.2016.11.012}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:526-opus4-9908}, pages = {1 -- 29}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Progress in the diagnosis of leishmaniases depends on the development of effective methods and the discovery of suitable biomarkers. We propose firstly an update classification of Leishmania species and their synonymies. We demonstrate a global map highlighting the geography of known endemic Leishmania species pathogenic to humans. We summarize a complete list of techniques currently in use and discuss their advantages and limitations. The available data highlights the benefits of molecular markers in terms of their sensitivity and specificity to quantify variation from the subgeneric level to species complexes, (sub) species within complexes, and individual populations and infection foci. Each DNA-based detection method is supplied with a comprehensive description of markers and primers and proposal for a classification based on the role of each target and primer in the detection, identification and quantification of leishmaniasis infection. We outline a genome-wide map of genes informative for diagnosis that have been used for Leishmania genotyping. Furthermore, we propose a classification method based on the suitability of well-studied molecular markers for typing the 21 known Leishmania species pathogenic to humans. This can be applied to newly discovered species and to hybrid strains originating from inter-species crosses. Developing more effective and sensitive diagnostic methods and biomarkers is vital for enhancing Leishmania infection control programs.}, language = {en} } @article{HornemannSinningCortesetal.2017, author = {Hornemann, Andrea and Sinning, Denise and Cortes, Sofia and Campino, Lenea and Emmer, Peggy and Kuhls, Katrin and Ulm, Gerhard and Frohme, Marcus and Beckhoff, Burkhard}, title = {A pilot study on fingerprinting Leishmania species from the Old World using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy}, series = {Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry}, journal = {Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry}, issn = {1432-1130}, doi = {10.1007/s00216-017-0655-5}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:526-opus4-10080}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Leishmania species are protozoan parasites and the causative agents of leishmaniasis, a vector borne disease that imposes a large health burden on individuals living mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. Different Leishmania species are responsible for the distinct clinical patterns, such as cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral leishmaniasis, with the latter being potentially fatal if left untreated. For this reason, it is important to perform correct species identification and differentiation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is an analytical spectroscopic technique increasingly being used as a potential tool for identification of microorganisms for diagnostic purposes. By employing mid-infrared (MIR) spectral data, it is not only possible to assess the chemical structures but also to achieve differentiation supported by multivariate statistic analysis. This work comprises a pilot study on differentiation of Leishmania species of the Old World (L. major, L. tropica, L. infantum, and L. donovani) as well as hybrids of distinct species by using vibrational spectroscopic fingerprints. Films of intact Leishmania parasites and their deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) were characterized comparatively with respect to their biochemical nature and MIR spectral patterns. The strains' hyperspectral datasets were multivariately examined by means of variance-based principal components analysis (PCA) and distance-based hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). With the implementation of MIR spectral datasets we show that a phenotypic differentiation of Leishmania at species and intra-species level is feasible. Thus, FTIR spectroscopy can be further exploited for building up spectral databases of Leishmania parasites in view of high-throughput analysis of clinical specimens.}, language = {en} }