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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Investigating the Phagocytosis of Leishmania using Confocal Microscopy
08:41

Investigating the Phagocytosis of Leishmania using Confocal Microscopy

Published on: July 29, 2021

Leishmania commandeers the host inflammatory response through neutrophils

Ryan C Jochim1, Clarissa Teixeira

  • 1Vector Molecular Biology Unit, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, 12735 Twinbrook Parkway, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA. rjochim@niaid.nih.gov

Trends in Parasitology
|March 10, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Leishmania parasites use neutrophils as a pathway into macrophages, a modified Trojan horse strategy. Depleting neutrophils hinders leishmaniasis progression, highlighting their crucial role in the disease.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Parasitology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Neutrophils are primary responders to tissue damage.
  • Sandfly bites recruit neutrophils, which can be infected by Leishmania.
  • The 'Trojan horse' model describes parasite entry into host cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of neutrophils in Leishmania infection.
  • To elucidate the mechanism of Leishmania entry into macrophages via neutrophils.

Main Methods:

  • Observational studies on neutrophil recruitment and parasite interaction.
  • Experimental neutrophil depletion models in leishmaniasis.

Main Results:

  • Leishmania escapes neutrophils to silently infect macrophages.
  • Neutrophil depletion significantly impaired leishmaniasis disease progression.

Conclusions:

  • Neutrophils play a critical role in leishmaniasis pathogenesis.
  • Leishmania utilizes neutrophils as a conduit for macrophage invasion, a novel Trojan horse mechanism.

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