Parasite Genotype Is a Major Predictor of Mortality from Visceral Leishmaniasis
Cooper Alastair Grace, Kátia Silene Sousa Carvalho, Mayara Ingrid Sousa Lima, Vladimir Costa Silva, João Luís Reis-Cunha, Matthew J. Brune, Sarah Forrester, Conceição de Maria Pedrozo e Silva de Azevedo, Dorcas Lamounier Costa, Doug Speed, Jeremy C. Mottram, Daniel Jeffares, Carlos Henrique Nery Costa
Abstract
Multiple factors contribute to the risk of mortality from visceral leishmaniasis (VL), including, patient genotype, comorbidities, and nutrition. Many of these factors are influenced by socioeconomic biases. Our work suggests that the virulence of the infecting parasite is an important risk factor for mortality. We pinpoint some specific genomic markers that are associated with mortality, which can lead to a greater understanding of the molecular mechanisms that cause severe VL disease, to the identification of genetic markers for virulent parasites, and to the development of drug and vaccine therapies.