Vaccinations against cutaneous Leishmania infection
Kronenberg, K.; Brosch, S.; Von Stebut, E.
Giornale Italiano di Dermatologia e Venereologia Organo Ufficiale Societa Italiana di Dermatologia e Sifilografia 143(2): 125-137
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 0392-0488 PMID: 18833039 Document Number: 619469
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an endemic disease with increasing incidence, even in Europe. Recently, it has attracted more attention due to reactivation in immunocompromised hosts (e.g., in the context of HIV). Therapeutic options range from topical treatment to systemic therapy for more complex cases. A vaccine does not exist at present. Despite several attempts, vaccine generation has proven to be difficult even though protective immunity against the obligate intracellular Leishmania parasite is dependent on the development of antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells capable of releasing IFN- gamma . IFN- gamma , in turn, activates phagocytic host cells to generate oxidative radicals and to eliminate the parasite. This review describes the basic immunology leading to the development of protective immunity in infected individuals. It highlights the different approaches utilized for vaccine development and describes what consists an efficient vaccine. Combined intensive research in the fields of basic parasitology and immunology may allow the development of an efficacious vaccine against this important human pathogen in the near future.