Bi-directional highways and super-seeder tissues underpin parasite dissemination in experimental Leishmania donovani infection
Nature Communications·
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41467-026-77072-4
- PMID
- —
- PMCID
- —
- OpenAlex
- W7204261393
- Study type
- Ecological study
- Publisher
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
Clarifying these internal migration patterns may help explain recurring infections and therapeutic resistance, offering conceptual guidance for managing disease propagation.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
The investigation seeks to clarify how Leishmania donovani migrates through various anatomical compartments and selects specific tissues during infection.
Study design
Researchers conducted an experimental trial using a laboratory mouse model, integrating a genetically tagged parasite collection with computational ecological methods to track infection spread.
Population and setting
The analysis focused on a controlled murine cohort subjected to experimental parasitic infection.
Main findings
Analysis revealed dense network connections between internal organs and cutaneous layers, indicating constant reciprocal movement. Specific anatomical regions were identified as major amplification centers that drive widespread infection. Furthermore, alterations in host immunity triggered shifts in the primary pathways used by the parasite to travel.
Public-health relevance
Clarifying these internal migration patterns may help explain recurring infections and therapeutic resistance, offering conceptual guidance for managing disease propagation.
Important limitations
The experimental approach depends entirely on rodent subjects, which inherently limits direct translation to human clinical presentations and immune responses.
GIDS interpretation
This work establishes a mechanistic baseline for tracking pathogen distribution within hosts, providing contextual reference points for future epidemiological modeling. It highlights theoretical transmission corridors rather than reporting active field detection events.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 7 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.