How Leishmania Viannia hides and persists in people
Host and parasite determinants of Leishmania Viannia persistence in naturally infected human populations
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK · NIH-11238480
This project looks at how Leishmania Viannia parasites and people’s immune systems let infections stay hidden or come back in communities where the parasite spreads.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (COLLEGE PARK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11238480 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will work with people living in areas where L. Viannia is common and collect blood, skin, and mucosal samples to search for hidden parasites. They will compare samples from people with no symptoms, those who had prior skin lesions, and those with recurring or mucosal disease to find patterns. In the lab they will study parasite subgroups and immune signals and use advanced models, including 3D tissue cultures, to mimic human skin and mucosa. The team aims to pinpoint how host immune tolerance and parasite traits interact to allow long-term persistence and later reactivation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people from regions where Leishmania Viannia spreads who have had past or current cutaneous or mucosal leishmaniasis or are known to carry the parasite without symptoms.
Not a fit: People without Leishmania Viannia infection, those infected with different Leishmania species, or individuals far from endemic areas are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better ways to detect hidden infection and to prevent or treat recurrent cutaneous and mucosal leishmaniasis.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has documented parasite persistence in blood and mucosal tissues and immune tolerance in related infections, but this combined focus on parasite subpopulations, host tolerance, and 3D-models in human samples is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
COLLEGE PARK, UNITED STATES
- UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK — COLLEGE PARK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: EL-SAYED, NAJIB M — UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
- Study coordinator: EL-SAYED, NAJIB M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.