Browsing by Author "Toz, S"

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    Analysis of morphological variations of three Adlerius (Diptera: Psychodidae) species collected in two cutaneous leishmaniasis endemic foci of Turkey
    Kavur, H; Arikan, H; Toz, S; Balcioglu, IC; Ozbel, Y
    Leishmaniasis, transmitted to human by sand flies, is a neglected vector-borne diseases and has two clinical forms: cutaneous (CL) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Turkey. Subgenus of Adlerius are known as probable vectors of both forms of leishmaniasis in Turkey. Examined three species belonging to Adlerius are difficult to distinguish morphologically and have similar taxonomic characters. The aim of this study was to analyse and identify the possible morphological variations, of wild-caught sand fly specimens belonging to Adlerius subgenus. Six and seven morphological characters for female and male specimens were used, respectively. ANOVA, principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant function analysis (DFA) test were performed to determine the significant morphometric variables of the three species. Univariate and multivariate analyses of 13 morphometric variables via ANOVA, DFA and PCA showed that eight (six for females, two for males) morphometric variables had an accuracy of 100% for discriminating three Adlerius subgenus specimens. The analyses revealed significant differences on several morphological structures of Adlerius specimens. These results suggested that morphological and morphometrical features can be used to discriminate three Adlerius species, in which one of them is proven vector Leishmania (L.) tropica in two foci of Turkey.
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    Leishmania kinetoplast DNA contributes to parasite burden in infected macrophages: Critical role of the cGAS-STING-TBK1 signaling pathway in macrophage parasitemia
    Yilmaz, IC; Dunuroglu, E; Ayanoglu, IC; Ipekoglu, EM; Yildirim, M; Girginkardesler, N; Ozbel, Y; Toz, S; Ozbilgin, A; Aykut, G; Gursel, I; Gursel, M
    Leishmania parasites harbor a unique network of circular DNA known as kinetoplast DNA (kDNA). The role of kDNA in leishmania infections is poorly understood. Herein, we show that kDNA delivery to the cytosol of Leishmania major infected THP-1 macrophages provoked increased parasite loads when compared to untreated cells, hinting at the involvement of cytosolic DNA sensors in facilitating parasite evasion from the immune system. Parasite proliferation was significantly hindered in cGAS- STING- and TBK-1 knockout THP-1 macrophages when compared to wild type cells. Nanostring nCounter gene expression analysis on L. major infected wild type versus knockout cells revealed that some of the most upregulated genes including, Granulysin (GNLY), Chitotriosidase-1 (CHIT1), Sialomucin core protein 24 (CD164), SLAM Family Member 7 (SLAMF7), insulin-like growth factor receptor 2 (IGF2R) and apolipoprotein E (APOE) were identical in infected cGAS and TBK1 knockout cells, implying their involvement in parasite control. Amlexanox treatment (a TBK1 inhibitor) of L. major infected wild type cells inhibited both the percentage and the parasite load of infected THP-1 cells and delayed footpad swelling in parasite infected mice. Collectively, these results suggest that leishmania parasites might hijack the cGAS-STING-TBK1 signaling pathway to their own advantage and the TBK1 inhibitor amlexanox could be of interest as a candidate drug in treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
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    Seroepidemiological and entomological survey in a new focus of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in Kars province, Northeastern Turkey
    Sari, B; Limoncu, ME; Balcioglu, IC; Aldemir, A; Tasci, GT; Kiliç, Y; Toz, S; Demirci, B; Demir, S; Kasap, OE; Olgen, MK; Ozbel, Y
    Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has now been recorded from 38 provinces of Turkey. Twenty-one VL cases were reported within six years from settlements located in most northeastern Turkey and we therefore aimed to carry out an entomological and seroepidemiological survey in this new focus for clarifying risk factors. Blood samples from 290 children and 165 dogs were collected. Sera samples were investigated for anti-Leishmania antibodies using indirect fluorescent antibody test. Sand fly collection for determining the fauna and seasonal activity was performed in all settlements by CDC light traps between June and September 2006. Although no seropositive child was detected during the survey the overall seroprevalence rate of canine leishmaniasis was found as 7.2%. A total of 4154 sand flies were collected and 10 species of genus Phlebotomus were identified belonging to Adlerius, Larroussius, Paraphlebotomus and Phlebotomus subgenera. Among them Phlebotomus kandelakii s.l. (55.44%), Phlebotomus bakanicus (12.62%) and Phlebotomus neglectus (4.40%) was detected as probable vector species for this new focus. The poor sanitation, very high population size of sand flies, probably because of very short season, no control measures for sand flies as well as dogs, and presence of microclimate suitable for sand flies were considered as main risk factors in the area. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.