Sandfly saliva provides important clues for new Leishmaniasis treatments

For millions of people who live under the constant threat of Leishmania infection, a new discovery by Brazilian scientists may lead to new breakthroughs, preventing these parasites from taking hold in the body or reducing the severity of infections once they occur. In a new report appearing in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, scientists show that specific molecules found in the saliva of the sandfly—a small flying insect that is the vector for the parasite -- make it possible for Leishmania to evade neutrophils and live within human hosts. In addition to providing a new target for drug development, this discovery may lead to new tools that help doctors more accurately gauge the severity of infections.

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