Leishmaniasis and the role of Iron

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.