Grant: Project Grant

Infection with Leishmania causes a spectrum of diseases depending on the species ranging from benign skin infections to fatal internal organ infection. Leishmania parasites are transmitted through the bite of female infected sand flies. Treatments are available but are toxic and often not effective. No vaccines are available. Leishmania infections are global, occurring in 98 countries with up to 1 billion people at risk of infection. The leishmaniases are generally regarded as diseases of poverty fuelled by malnutrition, population displacement, poor housing, and a weakened immune system. Visceral leishmaniasis is associated with up to 20,000 reported deaths annually, with children under 5 years of age being at the greatest risk of mortality. Amongst WHO-recognised neglected diseases, leishmaniasis is one of the most important in terms of mortality and morbidity. The proposed research will identify the Leishmania genes responsible progression of the infection from the skin at the site of the sandfly bite to the internal organs resulting in fatal visceral organ infection. This will help determine why some infections are benign remaining in the skin and others are deadly progressing to internal organs. This will identify new ways to block or inhibit visceral organ infection providing more specific and new drug targets.