Interplay of human macrophage response and natural resistance of ( .) to pentavalent antimony.

Unlabelled: Macrophages are the principal host cells of . in human infection and play a critical role in controlling infection and enabling parasite survival and persistence. Nevertheless, understanding of drug resistance in leishmaniasis has primarily focused on the parasite.

Building Research Capacity in Low- and Middle-Income Countries and Pandemic Preparedness: Lessons Learned and Future Directions.

Research capacity is a critical component of pandemic preparedness, as highlighted by the challenges faced during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Recent global initiatives, such as the Research & Development Task Force of the Global Health Security Agenda and the World Health Assembly's resolution on strengthening clinical trials, emphasize the need for robust research capabilities. This Perspective discusses the experiences of leaders in infectious disease research and capacity building in low- and middle-income countries, focusing on Colombia, Jamaica, and Pakistan.

Randomized trial evaluating an mHealth intervention for the early community-based detection and follow-up of cutaneous leishmaniasis in rural Colombia.

Background: In Latin America, cutaneous leishmaniasis primarily affects dispersed rural communities, that have limited access to the public health system and medical attention. Mobile health (mHealth) strategies have shown potential to improve clinical management and epidemiological surveillance of neglected tropical diseases, particularly those of the skin.

Methods: The Guaral +ST app for Android was designed to monitor cutaneous leishmaniasis treatment and assess therapeutic response.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis treatment and therapeutic outcomes in special populations: A collaborative retrospective study.

Background: Treatment guidance for children and older adult patients affected by cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is unclear due to limited representation of these groups in clinical trials.

Methods: We conducted a collaborative retrospective study to describe the effectiveness and safety of antileishmanial treatments in children ≤ 10 and adults ≥ 60 years of age, treated between 2014 and 2018 in ten CL referral centers in Latin America.

Results: 2,037 clinical records were assessed for eligibility.

Profiles of Local and Systemic Inflammation in the Outcome of Treatment of Human Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Caused by ().

The immune mechanisms that contribute to the efficacy of treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to define immune correlates of the outcome of treatment of CL caused by () species during standard of care treatment with pentavalent antimonials. We conducted a comparative expression profiling of immune response genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and lesion biopsy specimens obtained from CL patients before and at the end of treatment (EoT) with meglumine antimoniate.

Resistance of to Meglumine Antimoniate or Miltefosine Modulates Neutrophil Effector Functions.

is the main causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia and is usually treated with either meglumine antimoniate (MA) or miltefosine (MIL). In recent years, there has been increasing evidence of the emergence of drug-resistance against these compounds. Neutrophils are known to play an important role in immunity against .

Developing mobile health applications for neglected tropical disease research.

Mobile applications (apps) can bring health research and its potential downstream benefits closer to underserved populations. Drawing on experience developing an app for detecting and referring cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia, called Guaral/app, we review key steps in creating such mobile health (mHealth) tools. These require consideration of the sociotechnical context using methods such as systems analysis and human-centered design (HCD), predicated on engagement and iteration with all stakeholders.

Strengthening institutional capacity for equitable health research: lessons from Latin America and the Caribbean.

argue that development of research capacity in Latin America and the Caribbean requires investment in both individuals and regional institutions

Development and Evaluation of a Novel Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay for Diagnosis of Cutaneous and Visceral Leishmaniasis.

A novel pan- loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the diagnosis of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis (CL and VL) that can be used in near-patient settings was developed. Primers were designed based on the 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and the conserved region of minicircle kinetoplast DNA (kDNA), selected on the basis of high copy number. LAMP assays were evaluated for CL diagnosis in a prospective cohort trial of 105 patients in southwest Colombia.

Pathophysiology of Leishmania Infection during Pregnancy.

The pathological processes resulting from parasitic infection are known to have important impacts on the mother child dyad during pregnancy. The roles of parasite transmission and the maternal immune response have been described in diseases such as malaria, toxoplasmosis, and trypanosomiasis. However, the impact of parasites of the genus Leishmania, etiological agents of the neglected tropical diseases tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL), is comparatively less well known, though it is an increasingly recognized concern for infected mothers and their fetuses.

Profiling gene expression of antimony response genes in Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis and infected macrophages and its relationship with drug susceptibility.

The mechanisms of Leishmania resistance to antimonials have been primarily determined in experimentally derived Leishmania strains. However, their participation in the susceptibility phenotype in field isolates has not been conclusively established. Being an intracellular parasite, the activity of antileishmanials is dependent on internalization of drugs into host cells and effective delivery to the intracellular compartments inhabited by the parasite.

Local Delivery of the Toll-Like Receptor 9 Ligand CpG Downregulates Host Immune and Inflammatory Responses, Ameliorating Established Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis Chronic Infection.

Infection by () , the predominant etiologic agent for cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia, is characterized by a chronic mixed inflammatory response. Current treatment options are plagued by toxicity, lengthy treatment regimens, and growing evidence of drug resistance. Immunotherapy, modulating the immune system to mount a protective response, may provide an alternate therapeutic approach.

An Innovative Field-Applicable Molecular Test to Diagnose Cutaneous Leishmania Viannia spp. Infections.

Cutaneous and mucosal leishmaniasis is widely distributed in Central and South America. Leishmania of the Viannia subgenus are the most frequent species infecting humans. L.