Metformin promotes susceptibility to experimental Leishmania braziliensis infection.

Background: Metformin (MET) is a hypoglycemic drug used for the treatment of diabetes, despite interference in host immunity against microorganisms. Cutaneous infection caused by pathogens such as Leishmania braziliensis (Lb), the agent responsible for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Brazil, represents an interesting model in which to evaluate the effects associated with MET.

Objective: To evaluate the modulatory effect of MET in Lb infection.