Protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania alternate between flagellated promastigotes in sandfly vectors, and non-flagellated amastigotes residing in mammalian macrophages. They are the causative agents for a group of devastating diseases (leishmaniasis) infecting 10-12 million people worldwide. Current drugs for leishmaniasis are plagued with low efficacy and high toxicity. With resistance is on the rise and no safe vaccine available, there is a great need to maintain a steady stream of new drugs and potential drug targets. Our long term goal is to decipher the molecular strategy utilized by Leishmania parasites to thrive in the harsh environment in sandflies and mammals. Understanding the fundamental mechanism of pathogenesis can lead to new and improved medications
