Abstract
Leishmaniasis transmission cycles are maintained and sustained in nature by the complex crosstalk of the Leishmania parasite, sandfly vector, and the mammalian hosts (human, as well as zoonotic reservoirs). Regardless of the vast research on human host-parasite interaction, there persists a substantial knowledge gap on the parasite’s development and modulation in the vector component. This review focuses on some of the intriguing aspects of the Leishmania-sandfly interface, beginning with the uptake of the intracellular amastigotes from an infected host to the development of the parasite within the sandfly’s alimentary canal, followed by the transmission of infective metacyclic stages to another potential host. Upon ingestion of the parasite, the sandfly hosts an intricate repertoire of immune barriers, either to evade the parasite or to ensure its homeostatic coexistence with the vector gut microbiome. Sandfly salivary polypeptides and Leishmania exosomes are co-egested with the parasite inoculum during the infected vector bite. This has been attributed to the modulation of the parasite infection and subsequent clinical manifestation in the host. While human host–based studies strive to develop effective therapeutics, a greater understanding of the vector-parasite-microbiome and human host interactions could help us to identify the targets and to develop strategies for effectively preventing the transmission of leishmaniasis.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to extend our gratitude to all the reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions, which helped us to improve the quality of the manuscript. We also acknowledge ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre for providing infrastructural facilities to execute this review work. AT acknowledges the Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) support by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
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This study was partially supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Government of India (no. Fellowship/129/2022-ECD-II).
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AT searched the literature and drafted the manuscript. NPK corrected and critically reviewed the manuscript. AK critically reviewed the manuscript. PS designed the study, analyzed the data, and corrected the manuscript.
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Tom, A., Kumar, N.P., Kumar, A. et al. Interactions between Leishmania parasite and sandfly: a review. Parasitol Res 123, 6 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-023-08043-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-023-08043-7