Publication
Title
Tracking of quiescence in Leishmania by quantifying the expression of GFP in the ribosomal DNA locus
Author
Abstract
Under stressful conditions some microorganisms adopt a quiescent stage characterized by a reversible non or slow proliferative condition that allows their survival. This adaptation was only recently discovered in Leishmania. We developed an in vitro model and a biosensor to track quiescence at population and single cell levels. The biosensor is a GFP reporter gene integrated within the 185 rDNA locus, which allows monitoring the expression of 185 rRNA (rGFP expression). We showed that rGFP expression decreased significantly and rapidly during the transition from extracellular promastigotes to intracellular amastigotes and that it was coupled in vitro with a decrease in replication as measured by BrdU incorporation. rGFP expression was useful to track the reversibility of quiescence in live cells and showed for the first time the heterogeneity of physiological stages among the population of amastigotes in which shallow and deep quiescent stages may coexist. We also validated the use of rGFP expression as a biosensor in animal models of latent infection. Our models and biosensor should allow further characterization of quiescence at metabolic and molecular level.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Scientific reports. - London, 2011, currens
Publication
London : Nature Publishing Group , 2019
ISSN
2045-2322
DOI
10.1038/S41598-019-55486-Z
Volume/pages
9 (2019) , 12 p.
Article Reference
18951
ISI
000503042600001
Pubmed ID
31831818
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 08.01.2020
Last edited 02.10.2024
To cite this reference