Screen of Leishmania mexicana transporter mutants in sandflies

Leishmania amastigotes ingested by female phlebotomine sand flies are exposed to a harsh and dynamic environment, markedly different from that of their mammalian host. Within the sand fly's alimentary tract, these parasite forms encounter shifts in temperature, pH and nutrient availability, which trigger significant morphological and physiological adaptations. Membrane transporter proteins, channels and pumps play a crucial role in facilitating the movement of solutes across eukaryotic membranes. Here, using an independently generated library of barcoded gene deletion mutants, we monitored their growth fitness for seven days in vitro and tested which transporters are required for Leishmania promastigotes to successfully colonise Lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies.