University of Calgary

Lashitew Gedamu

  • Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences
  • Integrative Cell Biology

Currently Teaching

Not currently teaching any courses.

Research Interests

Work in this laboratory is focussed on leishmaniasis, a chronic disease caused by the intracellular protozoa parasite Leishmania which affects more than 500 million people in several countries in the world. Our goal is to hopefully understand the survival mechanism(s) of the parasite in human macrophages (a stressful environment) during infection at the molecular level and ultimately use molecular probes for diagnostic purposes as well as design vaccine(s) for future treatment of individuals infected with this parasite.

Selected Publications

  • Google Scholar Link
  • Bayih AG, Daifalla NS, Gedamu L (2014) DNA-Protein Immunization Using Leishmania Peroxidoxin-1 Induces a Strong CD4+ T Cell Response and Partially Protects Mice from Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: Role of Fusion Murine Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor DNA Adjuvant. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 8(12):e3391. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0003391
  •  Daifalla, S. N., Bayih, A.G. and Gedamu, L. (2012) Leishmania donovani recombinant iron superoxide dismutase B1protein in the presence of TLR-based adjuvants induces partial Protection of BALB/c mice against Leishmania major infection, Exp. Parasitol. 131: 317-24. 

  • Getachew, F and Gedamu, L. (2012) Leishmania donovani mitochondrial iron superoxide dismutase-A is released to the cytosol during miltefosine induced programmed cell death , Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 183: 42-51. 
  • Negara, E., Gadisa, E.. Hussein, J., Engers, H., Kuru, T., Gedamu, L., and Aseffa, A. (2012) Treatment response of cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania aethiopica to cryotherapy and generic sodium stibogluconatefrom patients in Silti, Ethiopia. Trans Soc Trop Med Hyg. 106: 496-503.
  • Tafesse, M., Kuchmina, E., Lakew, M., Hain, T., Mamao, G., Gedamu, L., Yamuah, L., Aseffa, A., and Parida, S. K. (2012) Novel approaches toward the development of an oral post-exposure DNA vaccine for latent tuberculosis using Salmonella typhimurium delta aro vector. African Journal of Biotechnology. 11:11150-59.
  • Farell, P.J., Kucknoor, A.S., Iatrou, K, and Gedamu, L. (2012) A simple technique to enhance the humoral immune response to intracellular protein antigens in genetic immunizations. J. Immunol Methods. In Press 
  • Plewes, K., Barr, S. and Gedamu, L. (2003) Iron superoxide dismutase targeted to the glycosomes of Leishmania chagasi is important for survival. Infect. Immun. 71:5910-5920. 
  • Barr, S. and Gedamu, L. (2003) Role of peroxidins in Leishmania chagasi survival: evidence of an enzymatic defense against nitrosative stress. J. Biol. Chem. 278, 10816-10823
  • Mundodi, V., Somanna, A., Farrell, P.J. and L. Gedamu. 2002. Genomic organization and functional expression of differentially regulated cysteine protease genes of Leishmania donovani complex. Gene 282: 257-265.
  • Somanna, A., Mundodi, V. and L. Gedamu. 2002. Functional analysis of cathespin B-like cysteine proteases from Leishmania donovani complex: evidence for the activation of latent transforming growth factor B. J. Biol. Chem. 277: 25305-25312.
  • Somanna, A., Mundodi, V. and L. Gedamu. 2002. In vitro cultivation and characterization of Leishmania chagasi amastigote-like forms. Acta Tropica 83: 37-42.
  •  Barr, S.D. and L. Gedamu. 2001. Cloning and characterization of three differentially expressed peroxidoxin genes from Leishmanai chagasi: Evidence for an enzymatic detoxification of hydroxyl radicals. J. Biol. Chem. 276: 34279-34287.
  • Hailu, A., Menon, J., Berhie, N., Gedamu, L, Kager, P.A., Olobo, J., Senthilselvan, A. and P. Bretscher. 2001. Distinct immunity in visceral patients from that in both subclinically infected and in drug-cured people: implications for the mechanism of underlying drug cure. J. Infec. Dis. 184: 112-115.
  • Samson, S.-L.A., Paramchuk, W. and L. Gedamu. 2001. The rainbow trout metallothionein-B gene promoter: contributions of distal promoter elements. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1517: 202-211.
  • Samson, S.L.-A., W.J. Paramchuk and L. Gedamu. (2000). The rainbow trout metallothionein-B promoter: contributions of distal promoter elements to metal and oxidant regulation. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 93488: 1-10.
  • Carvan III, M.J., A.S. Willy, L. Gedamu and D.W. Herbert. (2000). Activation of transcription factors in zebrafish cell cultures by environmental pollutants. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 376: 320-327.

Degrees

  • PhD - Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
    University of Sussex, 1974
  • BSc
    University of Ethiopia, 1970
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