Persistent myeloid cell reprogramming despite miltefosine treatment in leishmania-infected macaques.

ABSTRACT: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected tropical disease caused by protozoan parasites. An inflammatory immune response, associated with tissue injury, occurs shortly after infection. Using a rhesus macaque model of VL, we evaluated the impact of miltefosine therapy administered during the acute phase of infection. Despite therapy, parasites persist in multiple tissues, including the spleen, bone marrow, peripheral, and mesenteric lymph nodes. Parasite burden inversely correlates with cellular miltefosine levels. Notably, L. infantum remains detectable three months post-treatment. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis reveals cellular heterogeneity and reprogramming of splenic myeloid cells post-treatment, including inflammatory macrophages, immature plasmacytoid dendritic cells, a

SUBMITTER: Picard M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12663736 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature