Leishmania major infection in humanized mice induces systemic infection and provokes a nonprotective human immune response.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Leishmania (L.) species are the causative agent of leishmaniasis. Due to the lack of efficient vaccine candidates, drug therapies are the only option to deal with cutaneous leishmaniasis. Unfortunately, chemotherapeutic interventions show high toxicity in addition to an increased risk of dissemination of drug-resistant parasites. An appropriate laboratory animal based model is still missing which allows testing of new drug strategies in the context of human immune cells in vivo.

Methodology/principal findings

Humanized mice were infected subcutaneously with stationary phase promastigote L. major into the footpad. The human immune response against the pathogen and the parasite host interactions were analyzed. In addition we proved the versatility of this new model

SUBMITTER: Wege AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3404120 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature