Human Leishmaniasis: Antigen Recognition Pattern and Study of New Potential Biomarkers

This is an exploratory experimental multicentre study on archived serum samples and on prospectively collected serum samples and blood samples. General objectives of the study are: to identify specific biomarkers in order to develop more accurate serological tests for the screening of Leishmania infections that does not present cross-reaction with other infectious diseases; to unveil the Antigen Recognition Patterns (ARPs) of Leishmania infection in humans; to verify whether the ARPs and the new biomarkers are common to different Leishmania infantum strains isolated in Italy as well as in other part of the World and to different strains of L. donovani isolated in Sudan as well as in other part of the World and discard any possible cross reaction with other infectious diseases such as Chagas, TB, leprosy or malaria.