title: Memory T cells in cutaneous leishmaniasis.
abstract: Leishmania causes a spectrum of diseases that range from self-healing to fatal infections. Control of leishmania is dependent upon generating CD4+ Th1 cells that produce IFNγ, leading to macrophage activation and killing of the intracellular parasites. Following resolution of the disease, short-lived effector T cells, as well as long-lived central memory T cells and skin resident memory T cells, are retained and able to mediate immunity to a secondary infection. However, there is no vaccine for leishmaniasis, and the drugs used to treat the disease can be toxic and ineffective. While a live infection generates immunity, a successful vaccine will depend upon generating memory T cells that can be maintained without the continued presence of parasites. Since both central memory and skin resident memory T cells are long-lived, they may be the appropriate targets for a leishmaniasis vaccine.
authors: Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors: Nelson D
authors: ND
authors: Glennie
authors: Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Electronic address: pscott@vet.upenn.edu.
authors: Phillip
authors: P
authors: Scott
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology*; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
keywords: Leishmania; Memory T cells; Vaccine