Unraveling the Mysteries of Leishmaniasis: How a Deadly Parasite Infects Non-Immune Cells

A new study published in the journal Cell has revealed that the parasitic organism responsible for visceral leishmaniasis, a potentially fatal disease, has developed a strategy for spreading by targeting individual non-immune cells. Researchers found the parasites in stem cells in the bone marrow of chronically infected mice, many of which were blood-related. This discovery raises questions about the role of these uncommon cells in harboring the parasites and their resistance to drug treatment. Visceral leishmaniasis affects 1.2 million people annually and is fatal in 95% of cases if left untreated.