Leishmaniasis

Bringing together one of the UK’s largest groups of researchers working on leishmaniasis, our research spans molecular parasitology, immunology, animal models, clinical research and clinical trials. An important part of our work involves collaborating with researchers and clinicians in affected countries.

We are leads or major contributors to five international networks; PREV_PKDL, UK:Brazil JCPiL, LeishChallenge, LeishPathNet and NTD Network, that aim to find innovative solutions to control leishmaniasis. For more information visit leish@york.

Research highlight: Molecular mechanisms regulating Leishmania life cycle progression

Lead researcher: Professor Jeremy Mottram, Department of Biology.

This project aims to investigate the signalling pathways that regulate key events in the life cycle of Leishmania and which protein kinases are essential and therefore potentially responsive to chemotherapeutic modulation.

Ongoing projects

Immunology of leishmaniasis projects

Immune mechanisms underpinning host infectiousness in visceral leishmaniasis
The molecular pathology of skin lesions in tegumentary leishmaniasis
Identification of targets for host directed therapy
The haematological and neurological consequences of chronic infection
Regulation of immunity by non-coding RNAs
Conducting Phase II clinical trials of a candidate leishmaniasis vaccine in Sudan
Developing a human challenge model of cutaneous leishmaniasis

The Leishmania parasite projects

Protein kinases involved in the regulation of Leishmania life cycle progression
Proteolytic mechanisms involved in cellular remodelling
Motility of Leishmania RNA binding proteins and regulation of gene expression
Population genomics to identify virulence factors and evolution of drug resistance
Chemical and genetic drug target validation including structural analysis