澳客竞彩

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Professor Greg Matlashewski, has been involved in basic and field research on leishmaniasis in Peru, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka for over 25 years. He previously led the World Health Organization program to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis from South East Asia.

Leishmaniasis is the second most deadly parasitic infectious disease after malaria and is a member of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that include other infections of poverty including trypanosomiasis, filariasis, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, and others. NTDs are largely confined to rural areas of the developing world and are chronic, disabling and stigmatizing conditions that contribute to global health disparities between rich and poor countries. More than one billion people, one sixth of the world population, are affected by NTDs. Although not optimal, there do exist diagnostics, treatments, and vector control measures for many of these diseases including leishmaniasis.

Professor Matlashewski argues that more effective use of existing diagnosis and treatments will have an huge impact and save many more lives. There are over 100,000 visceral leishmaniasis cases per year. Considering the unique epidemiological features of the disease, including humans are the only reservoir and the geographic distribution is limited, the elimination of visceral leishmaniasis as a major public health problem is possible if the existing diagnosis and treatments are combined with active surveillance to ensure that infected individuals are identified and treated as soon as possible to reduce transmission.

Professor Matlashewski has continued to performing field research in endemic countries including Northern India and Nepal and also maintains a strong laboratory research program at 澳客竞彩. His laboratory is exploring why some Leishmania species infection remain in the skin (cause cutaneous leishmaniasis) whereas other more virulent Leishmania species migrate to visceral organs where they cause deadly visceral leishmaniasis. Genetic analysis and CRISPR gene editing is used to understand the genetic basis for visceral leishmaniasis pathogenesis. As part of an international consortium of Leishmania experts, Professor Matlashewski鈥檚 lab is contribution to the development of a live attenuated Leishmania vaccine strain that will be entering human clinical trials in the near future and is re-establishing the leishmanin skin test for diagnosis and surveillance.