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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Quantification of Intracellular Growth Inside Macrophages is a Fast and Reliable Method for Assessing the Virulence of Leishmania Parasites
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The Dangerous Liaisons in the Oxidative Stress Response to Leishmania Infection

Marta Reverte1, Tiia Snäkä1, Nicolas Fasel1

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1066 Lausanne, Switzerland.

Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 23, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Leishmania parasites infect macrophages, crucial cells in the immune response. Oxidative stress from macrophages can kill parasites but also cause inflammation, impacting disease outcome.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Parasitology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Macrophages are key phagocytic cells targeted by Leishmania parasites.
  • Macrophages exhibit dual roles in Leishmania infection: parasite destruction or replication support.
  • Macrophage-induced oxidative burst is a defense mechanism involving inflammation and immune signaling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the complex roles of macrophages and oxidative stress in Leishmania infections.
  • To understand how the host immune response influences Leishmania parasite control or proliferation.

Main Methods:

  • The study focuses on the interaction between Leishmania parasites and host macrophages.
  • Analysis of the oxidative stress response and antioxidant mechanisms in macrophages during infection.

Main Results:

  • Oxidative stress presents a dual role: pathogen elimination and inflammation-induced tissue damage.
  • Leishmania infection triggers host antioxidant responses to mitigate oxidative damage.
  • The balance between parasite and host immune response dictates disease progression.

Conclusions:

  • Macrophages are central to controlling or exacerbating Leishmania infections.
  • The interplay between Leishmania spp. and host immune response strength determines infection outcome.
Keywords:
LRV1LeishmaniaNF-kBNRF2ROSinflammationmacrophage

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