In a major medical breakthrough, Indian scientists have discovered how the Leishmania parasite, which causes black fever, targets and spreads faster in the body. The Leishmania parasite hijacks SUMOylation, a key regulator of various cellular, nuclear, metabolic, and immunological processes, to spread in the body.
Visceral Leishmaniasis, also known as Kala-Azar or black fever, is spread by sandfly bites, which carry ‘Leishmania donovani’ a parasite in their hair. The vector flies live in muddy areas and scientists have long been looking at understanding the mechanism of the parasite to devise better treatment strategies.
“For the discovery of a drug-like candidate with higher efficacy and less toxicity, a better understanding of the interactions between host and parasite is essential. Leishmaniasis infects humans and replicates intracellular within macrophages, the cells that normally engaged in protecting the host from pathogens,” researchers said in a statement.
Led by a team of researchers from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), they discovered that Leishmania parasites modulate the host signaling mechanisms to suppress the host’s protective immune responses. “This discovery will open avenues for the development of novel drugs with a targeted approach for the control of this neglected disease,” Dr. Shailja Singh, who is part of the study said.
