Are Nanobiosensors an Improved Solution for Diagnosis of Leishmania?

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is one of the deadliest neglected tropical diseases affecting 12–15 million people worldwide, especially in middle- and low-income countries. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of the disease is important for its adequate management and treatment. Several techniques are available for the diagnosis of leishmaniasis. Among these, parasitological and immunological tests are most widely used. However, in most cases, the utilized diagnostic techniques are not good enough, showing cross-reactivity and reduced accuracy. In recent years, many new methods have been reported with potential for improved diagnosis. This review focuses on the diagnosis of Leishmania exploring the biosensors and nanotechnology-based options for their detection. New developments including the use of nanomaterials as fluorophores, fluorescence quenchers as reducing agents and as dendrimers for signal improvement and amplification, together with the use of aptamers to replace antibodies are described. Future research opportunities to overcome the current limitations on the available diagnostic approaches are also discussed.

Leishmania 360°: Guidelines for Exosomal Research

“…Despite all these considerations, the research has, in general, focused primarily on the description of the different clinical forms of LEV, in particular, in the visceral strains and in the proteomics of L. (L.) mexicana under the same conditions, which has provided valuable information on how polymorphisms in the LEV proteins may affect the cell-to-cell interactions between parasites and the host-parasite or the leishmanicidal activity [4,12,14,35,124]. Even so, comparative analyses of the reproducible isolation and the description of LEVs from procyclic and metacyclic-like in vitro cultures of a wider range of Leishmania species are still scarce [76,116,122]. New technologies such as proteomics have advanced existing knowledge on the differential expression of virulence factors in the different parasite stages, and the functional activity induced by the LEVs released by L. (L.) infantum, although the comparative proteomics of LEV production during the in vivo parasite cycle are still lacking [4,34,35,85,86].…”

“…Potentially, the complete understanding of the LEV cargo profile that activates the macrophages and lymphocytes or, alternatively, induces the deactivation of the cell will contribute to a better understanding of the interactions established between the parasites and the host cell [14,40,54,69,82]. In particular, this will contribute to the development of effective prophylactic and therapeutic approaches, given that the LEVs are the most biomimetic nanovectors of a variety of molecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, and chemicals in the poorly known molecular mechanisms of the parasite that regulate the immune response of the host to favor infection and their propagation [14,75,76,85,116].…”

Sequence-Specific Electrochemical Genosensor for Rapid Detection of blaOXA-51-like Gene in Acinetobacter baumannii

“…Among emerging technologies available, DNA biosensor, an analytical device incorporating a single-stranded oligonucleotide (probe) linked with a physicochemical transducer, offers an interesting alternative test. In recent years, this technology has been studied widely as a potential novel method for the detection of DNA hybridization in various fields such as the diagnosis of diseases including cancer [ 25 , 26 , 27 ], the detection of infectious agents [ 28 , 29 ], drug screening [ 30 , 31 , 32 ], crops screening [ 33 , 34 ], and forensic applications [ 35 , 36 ].…”

Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Mediated by Entomopathogenic Fungi: Antimicrobial Resistance, Nanopesticides, and Toxicity

“…It can be applied for several purposes, such as to promote improvements in human and animal health, create more durable consumer goods, increase agricultural and industrial productivity [1,2]. As a result, nanoparticles have been used for different goals, as a method to deliver fertilizers, in the development of antimicrobials against bacterial resistance, as environmental monitoring biosensors, and for pest control [3][4][5][6].…”