About this Research Topic
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease affecting world’s poorest people with 1 million new cases annually. The disease is caused by a protozoan parasite belonging to genus Leishmania and transmitted through bite of infectious female phlebotomine sandflies. Leishmaniasis affects human and animals in different parts of the world and is characterized by a complex pathology. The disease spectrum ranges from asymptomatic infection to clinical forms: cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) causing skin ulcers, mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL) affecting mucosal parts, and the most severe form visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Further, post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is characterized by maculo-papular and nodular rash and develops in individuals recovered from VL. Individuals with PKDL represent VL complication and are considered as a source of Leishmania infection.
Leishmaniasis is linked with malnutrition, lack of financial resources and weak immunity. VL has outbreak potential and is almost fatal if left untreated; an estimate of 90,000 new cases occurs every year with only 25-45% reporting to WHO. Epidemiological data indicates only 1 in 5-10 infected individuals develop symptomatic VL, suggesting the number of infected persons and prospective parasite pool is far greater. Leishmaniasis is a curable disease, but requires an immunocompetent individual to manifest, as drugs will not completely get rid of parasites from the body, and thus immunosuppressed persons may have reactivation of the disease even after successful treatment. One of the major hurdles for disease elimination has been a limited understanding of the immune mechanisms required to control parasite growth without it progressing into the clinical form of the disease.
To date, many immunological questions crucial for effective elimination and control of leishmania remain unanswered, such as the immune response in relapse vs reinfection, and why cellular immunity is not generated in VL.
This Research Topic aims to address the basic questions to combat challenges and developing our understanding of host immune responses during leishmania infection. It will rely on understanding the molecular mechanism during establishment of infection and immune regulation. We warmly welcome submissions in the form of Original Research, Reviews and Perspective articles on CL, MCL, VL that can advance our knowledge of Leishmania immunology. The focus will be on following areas, but not limited to:
1. Mechanism of immune-pathogenesis and evasion in leishmaniasis.
2. Investigations on role of innate and cellular immunology during Leishmania infection.
3. Innovations leading to development of novel vaccine and clinical targets that can be directed for therapeutic advantage in leishmaniasis.
Leishmaniasis is linked with malnutrition, lack of financial resources and weak immunity. VL has outbreak potential and is almost fatal if left untreated; an estimate of 90,000 new cases occurs every year with only 25-45% reporting to WHO. Epidemiological data indicates only 1 in 5-10 infected individuals develop symptomatic VL, suggesting the number of infected persons and prospective parasite pool is far greater. Leishmaniasis is a curable disease, but requires an immunocompetent individual to manifest, as drugs will not completely get rid of parasites from the body, and thus immunosuppressed persons may have reactivation of the disease even after successful treatment. One of the major hurdles for disease elimination has been a limited understanding of the immune mechanisms required to control parasite growth without it progressing into the clinical form of the disease.
To date, many immunological questions crucial for effective elimination and control of leishmania remain unanswered, such as the immune response in relapse vs reinfection, and why cellular immunity is not generated in VL.
This Research Topic aims to address the basic questions to combat challenges and developing our understanding of host immune responses during leishmania infection. It will rely on understanding the molecular mechanism during establishment of infection and immune regulation. We warmly welcome submissions in the form of Original Research, Reviews and Perspective articles on CL, MCL, VL that can advance our knowledge of Leishmania immunology. The focus will be on following areas, but not limited to:
1. Mechanism of immune-pathogenesis and evasion in leishmaniasis.
2. Investigations on role of innate and cellular immunology during Leishmania infection.
3. Innovations leading to development of novel vaccine and clinical targets that can be directed for therapeutic advantage in leishmaniasis.
Keywords: leishmaniasis, innate immunity, immunotherapy, vaccine, visceral leishmaniasis, leishmania
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