Impact of systemic leishmaniasis on microglial activity (360G-Wellcome-211202_Z_18_Z)

The proposed project will help test whether chronic activation of the innate immune system can lead to inflammation in the brain that contributes to neuro-degenerative processes that may manifest in a similar way to premature aging. Specifically, we will be focusing on what occurs following infection with Leishmania donovani, a parasite prevalent in Africa and India that causes the disease visceral leishmaniasis which affects internal organs such as bone marrow, spleen and liver. Visceral leishmaniasis was for a long time thought to be excluded from the CNS, however we will be looking for evidence of parasites and unusual activation of the brain's resident macrophages, microglia, which may lead to physical damage of CNS tissue, with potential long term impact on mental health. I will evaluate infected murine brain tissue for evidence of markers of microglial activation and inflammatory response as well as for the presence of the parasite itself.