Leishmania mediated regulation of host metabolism: impact on host immunity

Leishmaniasis, a vector-borne disease affecting millions worldwide, is caused by protozoan parasite <i>Leishmania</i>. In mammalian hosts, <i>Leishmania</i> survives in the hostile environment of macrophages by exploiting key metabolic pathways to evade their destruction and subvert the host immune responses. Understanding of how <i>Leishmania</i> alters host immune cell metabolism could reveal novel targets for vaccines and therapeutics for effective control of Leishmaniasis. This review focuses on <i>Leishmania</i>-induced modulation of host immune response, with particular focus on reprograming of key metabolic pathways in macrophages, dendritic cells, T cells and other immune cells.