Leishmania spp. and Leishmaniasis
A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Parasitic Pathogens".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 941
Special Issue Editors
Interests: Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania infantum; leishmaniasis; Leishmania spp.
Interests: drug discovery
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Leishmaniasis, caused by the protozoan Leishmania spp., remains one of the most significant neglected tropical diseases, transmitted to humans and other mammals through the bite of infected sandflies. There is no universal consensus on the clinical classification of the disease, which is broadly categorized into two main forms: cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL).
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global burden is alarming: 600,000 to 1 million new CL cases and 50,000 to 90,000 new VL cases occur each year. CL can cause lifelong disfigurement, leading to profound social and psychological impacts, while VL is a potentially fatal systemic disease if left untreated. With no approved human vaccine available, control strategies remain heavily dependent on early diagnosis and effective treatment—both of which face limitations in many endemic regions.
This Special Issue seeks to bring together cutting-edge research and critical reviews that advance our understanding of leishmaniasis. We welcome contributions addressing the following:
- Epidemiology—surveillance, distribution, and risk factors;
- Immunology—host immune responses, pathogenesis, and immune modulation;
- Diagnosis—novel tools, biomarkers, and rapid diagnostic tests;
- Treatment—current therapies, drug resistance, and development of new compounds;
- Control—integrated approaches for prevention and vector management;
- Vaccinology—strategies, platforms, and progress toward human vaccines;
- Host–parasite interactions—mechanisms of infection and transmission between mammals and sandfly vectors.
By consolidating studies from diverse disciplines, this Special Issue aims to choose original articles, reviews, and short communications to foster scientific exchange and contribute to innovative strategies for the control of leishmaniasis.
Dr. Patrícia De Almeida Machado
Dr. Ari Sérgio De Oliveira Lemos
Dr. Juliana Da Trindade Granato
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-blind 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 2200 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
- Leishmania spp.
- leishmaniasis
- cutaneous leishmaniasis
- visceral leishmaniasis
- sandflies
- epidemiology
- immunology
- vaccinology
- diagnosis
- treatment
- control
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
