Expression of a Leishmania donovani nucleotide sugar transporter in Leishmania major enhances survival in visceral organs

► Expression of Leishmania donovani specific gene Ld1590 increased Leishmania major virulence. ► Ld1590 may encodes a nucleotide sugar transporter for UDP-Gal or CMP-sialic acid. ► Like other NSTs, Ld1590 NST is localized in Leishmania Golgi apparatus. ► Deletion of Ld1590 gene has no effect on L. donovani growth and virulence.