Parasitic protozoa of the genus Leishmania cause a broad spectrum of diseases in humans from localized cutaneous lesions, mucosal infections of varying severity, or subclinical to acute visceral disease. Leishmaniasis are spanning throughout tropical and subtropical regions worldwide including the Mediterranean region. They are considered a major public health problem. In all forms of the disease, healing or recovery of leishmaniasis has been depended on specific Th1 cells. Inevitably, due to the importance of cellular responsiveness for the generation and maintenance of effective host immunity, extensive studies have been performed in animal models. Moreover the well-defined immune response generated upon experimental infection with Leishmania ssp in inbred mice, has made this parasitic infection an ideal experimental system for the investigation of Th1/Th2 polarization and regulation.
 
The objective of our work is to analyse the cellular and molecular immune mechanisms concerning the interplay between host cells and Leishmania spp. in order to define specific molecules for immune intervention.
 
Particularly our work is focus on the: 

• Role of CD8+ T cells in experimental L. infantum infection
• Impact of L. infantum infection οn macrophage function: role of MAP kinases 
• DCs and their role in the induction of protective immunity in L. major infection