Immune regulation during chronic visceral leishmaniasis.

• Published in: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
• Main Authors: Rebecca J Faleiro, Rajiv Kumar, Louise M Hafner, Christian R Engwerda
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2014
• Subjects: Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002914; https://doaj.org/article/0d5dc2a5687544f6ba10ae24288b0cfa

Visceral leishmaniasis is a chronic parasitic disease associated with severe immune dysfunction. Treatment options are limited to relatively toxic drugs, and there is no vaccine for humans available. Hence, there is an urgent need to better understand immune responses following infection with Leishmania species by studying animal models of disease and clinical samples from patients. Here, we review recent discoveries in these areas and highlight shortcomings in our knowledge that need to be addressed if better treatment options are to be developed and effective vaccines designed.