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Pathogens
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Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment of Leishmaniasis and Chagas Disease: Focus...
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Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment of Leishmaniasis and Chagas Disease: Focus on Latin American Context

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Parasitic Pathogens".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2026) | Viewed by 4045

Editors

Dr. Alexsandro Sobreira Galdino

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Guest Editor
Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Microrganismos, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei (UFSJ) Campus Centro-Oeste, Divinópolis 35501-296, MG, Brazil
Interests: microbial biotechnology; molecular biology; recombinant proteins; immunodiagnostics; leishmaniasis; chagas
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Rodolfo Cordeiro Giunchetti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratório de Biologia das Interações Celulares, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
Interests: leishmaniasis; vaccine; immunology; diagnosis; chagas
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Vector-borne parasitic diseases such as leishmaniasis and Chagas disease pose significant public health challenges worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Leishmaniasis, caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania infantum, is a zoonotic disease primarily transmitted by sand flies, with dogs serving as the main reservoir for the canine form of the disease. Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is transmitted by triatomine bugs and affects millions of people. These diseases are characterized by a wide range of clinical manifestations, from asymptomatic infections to severe, life-threatening complications, highlighting the need for comprehensive strategies to combat them.

Recent innovations have transformed the management of vector-borne parasitic diseases. Diagnostic advancements include recombinant proteins like rMELEISH, which improve the serological test accuracy for leishmaniasis. Computer-aided drug design (CADD) accelerates therapeutic discovery by optimizing drug–target interactions. As a form of prevention, chimeric protein vaccines and nanoparticles boost immunity and hinder parasite transmission. Additionally, novel vector control methods, such as insecticide-impregnated collars, effectively reduce disease prevalence.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a comprehensive platform for insights relating to the field of vector-borne parasitic diseases. We invite submissions of various types, including original research articles, comprehensive reviews, communications, and case reports.

Dr. Alexsandro Sobreira Galdino
Dr. Rodolfo Cordeiro Giunchetti
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pathogens is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • vector-borne parasitic diseases
  • leishmaniasis
  • Chagas disease
  • recombinant proteins
  • drug design
  • vaccine development
  • immunotherapy

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 9619 KB  
Article
Food Deprivation in Triatoma pallidipennis Increases the Expression of α-Tubulin, β-Actin, and a Heat Shock Protein in the Anterior Midgut
by Olivia Alicia Reynoso-Ducoing, Elsa Gabriela Díaz-Ramírez, Elia Torres-Gutiérrez, Mauro Omar Vences-Blanco, Berenice González-Rete, Yolanda Guevara-Gómez, Margarita Cabrera-Bravo and Paz María Silvia Salazar-Schettino
Pathogens 2026, 15(5), 482; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15050482 - 30 Apr 2026
Viewed by 515
Abstract
Food deprivation induces intestinal adaptations in Triatoma pallidipennis, a hematophagous insect with intermittent feeding habits. The ability to survive long periods without food promotes the persistence of this vector in the environment and contributes to its evolutionary success. This study employed one- [...] Read more.
Food deprivation induces intestinal adaptations in Triatoma pallidipennis, a hematophagous insect with intermittent feeding habits. The ability to survive long periods without food promotes the persistence of this vector in the environment and contributes to its evolutionary success. This study employed one- and two-dimensional electrophoretic techniques combined with Western blot to evaluate the abundance of α-tubulin, β-actin, and the heat shock protein HSP70. These proteins were more abundant in the anterior midgut tissue of unfed insects than in that of fed insects. As these responses were similar in females and males, the observed adaptations primarily depend on feeding status and intestinal region. These findings provide further insight into the intestinal physiology of T. pallidipennis, a vector of the flagellate parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment of Leishmaniasis and Chagas Disease: Focus on Latin American Context)
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14 pages, 1492 KB  
Article
Validation of Guanidine-EDTA as a Preservative Agent for the Analysis of miRNAs and mRNAs in Blood Samples of Chagas Disease Patients
by Amanda Faier-Pereira, Paula Finamore-Araujo, Maria Mikaely Ribeiro Brito, Alejandro Marcel Hasslocher-Moreno and Otacilio C. Moreira
Pathogens 2026, 15(4), 424; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15040424 - 14 Apr 2026
Viewed by 705
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected tropical disease caused by the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, representing a major socioeconomic challenge. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression, and several pathogens, including T. cruzi, can modulate host miRNA [...] Read more.
Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected tropical disease caused by the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, representing a major socioeconomic challenge. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression, and several pathogens, including T. cruzi, can modulate host miRNA networks. In this context, we hypothesized that host-derived miRNAs could serve as biomarkers in chronic CD. Given the intrinsic lability of RNA, we evaluated the efficacy of a 6 M guanidine-HCl/0.2 M EDTA solution, widely used in the molecular detection of T. cruzi DNA, in preserving mRNAs and miRNAs when mixed in a 1:1 ratio with human blood. Samples with or without guanidine were enriched with exogenous miRNAs (cel-miR-39 and cel-miR-54) and stored at 4 °C. RNase P expression was also evaluated in blood samples stored for up to 120 days and in samples from patients with CD, allowing direct comparison of mRNA stability over time. Samples preserved with guanidine-EDTA showed Ct values that were 4 to 5 cycles lower for all targets analyzed and demonstrated greater RNA stability over time. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that guanidine-EDTA robustly preserves mRNA and miRNAs in human blood, expanding the feasibility of molecular analyses in retrospective samples and corroborating its potential application in the studies of biomarkers of therapeutic response and prognosis in CD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment of Leishmaniasis and Chagas Disease: Focus on Latin American Context)
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13 pages, 1100 KB  
Article
Pentraxin 3 Levels Reflect Inflammatory and Parasitic Activity in Human Visceral Leishmaniasis
by Lucyo Flávio Bezerra Diniz, Milena Xavier Silva Barbosa, Samuel Ricarte de Aquino, Anderson da Costa Armstrong, Carlos Dornels Freire de Souza and Rodrigo Feliciano Carmo
Pathogens 2025, 14(12), 1299; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14121299 - 18 Dec 2025
Viewed by 702
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe zoonotic disease characterized by high mortality and a pronounced systemic inflammatory response. Although Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) has been implicated in infectious and inflammatory disorders, its role in human VL remains poorly defined, and host-derived indicators that simultaneously [...] Read more.
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe zoonotic disease characterized by high mortality and a pronounced systemic inflammatory response. Although Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) has been implicated in infectious and inflammatory disorders, its role in human VL remains poorly defined, and host-derived indicators that simultaneously reflect inflammatory and parasitic activity are limited. This study investigated the association between plasma PTX3 levels, parasite load, and PTX3 gene polymorphisms (rs1840680 and rs2305619) in patients with VL. An observational study was conducted between 2017 and 2021, including 36 patients with confirmed VL and 45 healthy controls matched by age and sex. Plasma PTX3 concentrations were determined by ELISA, parasite load by quantitative PCR (qPCR), and cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, IFN-γ and TNF-α) by flow cytometry. PTX3 levels were significantly higher in VL patients than in controls (23.2 ng/mL vs. 0.80 ng/mL; p < 0.0001) and correlated positively with parasite load (r = 0.39; p = 0.02) and cytokines IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ. No associations were observed between PTX3 polymorphisms and disease susceptibility. These findings suggest that PTX3 reflects both inflammatory responses and parasitic burden in VL and may serve as a potential indicator of disease activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment of Leishmaniasis and Chagas Disease: Focus on Latin American Context)
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21 pages, 7916 KB  
Article
Immunotherapeutics Combining a Recombinant Chimeric Protein, Monophosphoryl Lipid A, and Miltefosine Against Visceral Leishmaniasis
by Marcelo M. Jesus, Daniela P. Lage, Breno L. Pimenta, Gabriel J. L. Moreira, Isabela A. G. Pereira, Raquel S. B. Câmara, Ana L. Silva, Grasiele S. V. Tavares, Karolina O. M. Falcão, Saulo S. G. Dias, Dóris M. Abrão, Maíza M. Rodrigues, João A. Oliveira-da-Silva, Mário S. Giusta, Miguel A. Chávez-Fumagalli, Bruno M. Roatt, Alexsandro S. Galdino, Myron Christodoulides, Camila S. Freitas and Eduardo A. F. Coelho
Pathogens 2025, 14(12), 1202; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14121202 - 25 Nov 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1341
Abstract
Current treatment for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is associated with toxicity, a high cost, and the emergence of drug-resistant parasite strains. Moreover, no human vaccine is available. In this context, immunotherapeutics combining vaccination and chemotherapy have emerged as a promising alternative. In this study, [...] Read more.
Current treatment for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is associated with toxicity, a high cost, and the emergence of drug-resistant parasite strains. Moreover, no human vaccine is available. In this context, immunotherapeutics combining vaccination and chemotherapy have emerged as a promising alternative. In this study, we combined a recombinant chimeric protein (ChimT) with the adjuvant 3-O-desacyl–monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) and the antileishmanial drug miltefosine (Milt) and used it to treat Leishmania infantum-infected mice. Parasitological, immunological, and toxicological assays were performed at 1 and 30 days post treatment. The ChimT/MPLA/Milt combination was the most effective therapeutic regimen, inducing robust Th1-type cellular and humoral immune responses, as demonstrated by increased levels of IFN-γ, IL-12, and TNF-α cytokines, nitrite, and IgG2a antibodies. These responses were associated with significant reductions in parasite load across various organs. Furthermore, the treatment showed low renal and hepatic toxicity at both evaluation time points. By contrast, ChimT alone, ChimT/MPLA, and Milt induced lower immunological and parasitological responses when compared with the ChimT/MPLA/Milt group. The results observed at 1 and 30 days post treatment demonstrated the potential of ChimT/MPLA/Milt combination against VL. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment of Leishmaniasis and Chagas Disease: Focus on Latin American Context)
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