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Molecular Pathogenesis of Leprosy

  • Tropical Dermatology (TL Phung, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Leprosy is a chronic infectious granulomatous disease caused by the obligate intracellular bacteria Mycobacterium leprae. M. leprae causes symptoms in the skin, peripheral nerves, and other tissues. Type 1 (reversal reaction) and type 2 (erythema nodosum leprosum) lepra reactions are the main mechanisms of skin lesions, nerve damage, and other types of tissue damages. Susceptibility to mycobacterial infection and the clinical presentations of the disease are associated with aberrant host immune response, which forms the spectrum and pathologic manifestations of the disease.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nasser Institute for Research and Therapy, Ministry of Health in Egypt, Cairo, Egypt

    Mahmoud Bokhary

  2. Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, 1102 Bates Avenue, Feigin Center, room FC 0830.21, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Thuy L. Phung

Authors
  1. Mahmoud Bokhary
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  2. Thuy L. Phung
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Correspondence to Thuy L. Phung.

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Mahmoud Bokhary and Thuy L. Phung declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Tropical Dermatology

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Bokhary, M., Phung, T.L. Molecular Pathogenesis of Leprosy. Curr Trop Med Rep 3, 127–130 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40475-016-0094-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40475-016-0094-y

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