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The unicellular kinetoplastid protozoan parasites of genus Leishmania are the causative agents of complex neglected diseases called leishmaniasis and continue to be a significant health concern globally. Chapter 1 provide a brief overview of leishmaniasis and outline the number of drugs available for the treatment along with the possible targeted pathway in Leishmania parasite. The aim of chapter 2 is to provide an update on the current knowledge about iron acquisition and usage by Leishmania species. For the parasite survival and virulence, iron as metal ion plays a crucial role in many facets of cellular metabolism as a cofactor of several enzymes. Iron acquisition is essential for the survival of parasites. Since iron plays central roles in the host's response and parasite metabolism, a comprehensive understanding of the iron metabolism is beneficial to identify potential viable therapeutic opportunities against leishmaniasis.
About the author
Amir Zaidi, M.Sc. Biochemistry from Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi and Ph.D.(Biochemistry) from University of Calcutta. He studied the Fe-S cluster assembly machinery of model pathogen Leishmania donovani which causes visceral leishmaniasis.
