Cell Cycle, Telomeres, and Telomerase in <i>Leishmania</i> spp.: What Do We Know So Far?

Leishmaniases belong to the inglorious group of neglected tropical diseases, presenting different degrees of manifestations severity. It is caused by the transmission of more than 20 species of parasites of the <i>Leishmania</i> genus. Nevertheless, the disease remains on the priority li...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Luiz H. C. Assis, Débora Andrade-Silva, Mark E. Shiburah, Beatriz C. D. de Oliveira, Stephany C. Paiva, Bryan E. Abuchery, Yete G. Ferri, Veronica S. Fontes, Leilane S. de Oliveira, Marcelo S. da Silva, Maria Isabel N. Cano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-11-01
Series:Cells
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/11/3195
Description
Summary:Leishmaniases belong to the inglorious group of neglected tropical diseases, presenting different degrees of manifestations severity. It is caused by the transmission of more than 20 species of parasites of the <i>Leishmania</i> genus. Nevertheless, the disease remains on the priority list for developing new treatments, since it affects millions in a vast geographical area, especially low-income people. Molecular biology studies are pioneers in parasitic research with the aim of discovering potential targets for drug development. Among them are the telomeres, DNA–protein structures that play an important role in the long term in cell cycle/survival. Telomeres are the physical ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. Due to their multiple interactions with different proteins that confer a likewise complex dynamic, they have emerged as objects of interest in many medical studies, including studies on leishmaniases. This review aims to gather information and elucidate what we know about the phenomena behind <i>Leishmania</i> spp. telomere maintenance and how it impacts the parasite’s cell cycle.
ISSN:2073-4409