Cell biology and immunology of Leishmania

More than 20 years ago, immunologists discovered that resistance and susceptibility to experimental infection with the intracellular protozoan Leishmania major was associated with the development of T-helper 1 (Th1)- and Th2-dominated immune responses, respectively. This infectious disease model was later used to identify and assess the role of key factors, such as interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-4, in Th1 and Th2 maturation. While infection by Leishmania remains a popular model for immunologists who wish to assess the role of their favorite molecule in T-cell differentiation, other investigators have tried to better understand how Leishmania interact with its insect and mammalian hosts. In this review, we discuss some of these new data with an emphasis on the early events that shape the immune response to Leishmania and on the immune evasion mechanisms that allow this parasite to avoid the development of sterilizing immunity and to secure its transmission to a new host.