How sand fly saliva changes skin immunity during progressive leishmaniasis
Alteration of skin immune environment by sand fly saliva across progressive Leishmaniasis
Researchers will look at how molecules from sand fly bites alter skin immune responses during progressive visceral leishmaniasis to better understand infection and transmission.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11184509 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project follows how Leishmania infection and sand fly saliva change the immune environment in the skin as disease progresses. Scientists will use dogs and laboratory models plus human-derived samples to measure parasites in skin, track immune cells (like T cells, B cells, and macrophages), and study markers such as PD-1 and PD-L1. They will test how salivary components from sand flies influence immune exhaustion and the ability of immune cells to clear parasites. The goal is to connect lab findings to real infections to guide future ways to reduce transmission or improve treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with visceral leishmaniasis, especially those in endemic regions or dog owners with infected pets who can provide clinical information or skin samples, would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: People without Leishmania infection or those with unrelated skin conditions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal targets to boost local skin immunity, lower infectiousness, and guide new therapies or vaccines for visceral leishmaniasis.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have documented immune exhaustion and PD-1/PD-L1 involvement in leishmaniasis, but applying this knowledge specifically to how sand fly saliva reshapes skin immunity during progressive visceral disease is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Columbus, UNITED STATES
- Ohio State University — Columbus, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Petersen, Christine a — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Petersen, Christine a
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.