An overview on Leishmania vaccines: A narrative review article

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is one of the major health problems and categorized as a class I disease (emerging and uncontrolled) by World Health Organization (WHO), causing highly significant morbidity and mortality. Indeed, more than 350 million individuals are at risk of <em>Leishmania </em>infection, and about 1.6 million new cases occur causing more than 50 thousands death annually. Because of the severe toxicity and drug resistance, present chemotherapy regimen against diverse forms of <em>Leishmania </em>infections is not totally worthwhile. However, sound immunity due to natural infection, implies that vigor cellular immunity against <em>Leishmania</em> parasites, via their live, attenuated or killed forms, can be developed in dogs and humans. Moreover, genetically conserved antigens (in most of <em>Leishmania</em> species), and components of sand fly saliva confer potential immunogenic molecules for <em>Leishmania</em> vaccination. Vaccines successes in animal studies and some clinical trials clearly justify more researches and investments illuminating opportunities in suitable vaccine designation.