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Vaccines against leishmaniasis: using controlled human infection models to accelerate development
Vivak Parkash1,2, Paul M Kaye1, Alison M Layton1
1York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK.
Expert Review of Vaccines
|October 19, 2021
Summary
Developing a controlled human infection model (CHIM) using sand flies is crucial for advancing leishmaniasis vaccines. This new model will expedite the testing and market approval of promising leishmaniasis vaccine candidates.
Area of Science:
- Tropical medicine
- Vaccinology
- Infectious disease modeling
Background:
- Leishmaniasis is a WHO-defined vaccine-preventable neglected tropical disease.
- Despite ongoing vaccine development, no human leishmaniasis vaccine is currently available.
- The co-evolution of *Leishmania* parasites and sand fly vectors impacts infection and vaccine strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the development and rationale for a novel sand fly-initiated controlled human infection model (CHIM) for leishmaniasis vaccine research.
- To explore the application of CHIMs, drawing parallels with other infectious diseases, to accelerate leishmaniasis vaccine development.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical and recent experimental human infections with *Leishmania*.
- Discussion of the design and implementation of a new sand fly-initiated CHIM.
- Consideration of manufacturing, safety, ethical, and regulatory aspects of CHIM development.
Main Results:
- A new CHIM is being developed for testing cutaneous leishmaniasis vaccines.
- The utility of CHIMs for evaluating visceral leishmaniasis vaccines requires further investigation.
Conclusions:
- The developed CHIM is essential for expediting the evaluation of leishmaniasis vaccines in the pipeline.
- This model will significantly reduce the time required for vaccine market entry.
