Genetics of susceptibility to leishmaniasis in mice: four novel loci and functional heterogeneity of gene effects

Abstract

Symptoms of human leishmaniasis range from subclinical to extensive systemic disease, but the basis of these variations is unknown. We analyzed the symptomatology of leishmaniasis in mice by monitoring skin lesions, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and seven immunological parameters.

We detected and mapped 17 Leishmania major response (Lmr) gene loci that control the symptoms of infection. Surprisingly, the individual Lmr loci control 13 different combinations of pathological and immunological symptoms.

These findings extend the paradigm for the genetics of host response to infection to include numerous genes, each controlling a different set of organ-specific and systemic effects.

Keywords

• leishmaniasis
• host response
• gene effect