The LeiSHield-MATI consortium: An international project to understand and combat cutaneous leishmaniasis through research and innovation staff exchange

Abstract

For long, it had become evident to leishmaniases researchers that the pathological outcomes of infections such as cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) are affected by complex interactions of multiple factors, including the genetic diversities of the parasite and its phlebotomine vector, the immunocompetence of the human hosts, the mammalian reservoirs and last but not least, the environmental conditions, which favors the propagation of the parasite in transition [1]. Hence, simplistic assumptions based on data obtained from small animal models or monitoring the fluctuations of a few available biomarkers [2] have not been able to elevate our understanding of the mechanisms that shape or control CL pathologies. This has left us with no approved vaccination or new therapeutic for any forms of CL. The above shortcomings were addressed during a two-day Leishmania panel session within the 2016 meeting of Pasteur Institutes of the MATI region (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Iran) with the participation of Institut Pasteur in Paris, which was held at Pasteur Institute of Iran in Tehran. The exchange of ideas among the experts in that panel led to the proposition of a multilateral yet integrated research approach toward finding preventive and therapeutic means against the shared CL problem of this region. The main elements of this approach were based on “Leishmania genomics”, “host immune responses”, and “vector and transmission” thematics. Moreover, the issue of the social impact of CL was also raised, with the aim to increase public awareness on societal calamities caused by this neglected disease [3]. Upon a request by the Institut Pasteur International Network (IPIN) and with tremendous contributions of all the involved Leishmania researchers and in particular, Dr. Gerard Spaeth (head of Molecular Parasitology and Signaling Unit of Institut Pasteur), the topics and workpackages defined in the aforementioned Leishmania panel were developed into a well-defined two-year research project. This proposal entitled "LeiSHield-MATI Project A multidisciplinary integrative approach toward understanding clinical, molecular and socio-economic factors underlying cutaneous leishmaniasis across Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Iran in collaboration with Institut Pasteur International Network”, was evaluated and accepted by external reviewers under supervision of IPIN in 2017 and was consequently approved for funding by each involved Pasteur Institute in the consortium (€20,000 for 2 years per Institute).