Evasion of Host Defence by Leishmania donovani : Subversion of Signaling Pathways

Abstract EN

Protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania are responsible for causing a variety of human diseases known as leishmaniasis, which range from self-healing skin lesions to severe infection of visceral organs that are often fatal if left untreated.

Leishmania donovani (L.

donovani), the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis, exemplifys a devious organism that has developed the ability to invade and replicate within host macrophage.

In fact, the parasite has evolved strategies to interfere with a broad range of signaling processes in macrophage that includes Protein Kinase C, the JAK2/STAT1 cascade, and the MAP Kinase pathway.

This paper focuses on how L.

donovani modulates these signaling pathways that favour its survival and persistence in host cells.