PATHOGENESIS AND THERAPY OF TROPICAL DISEASES

该计划的主要目标是扩大我们的知识 血吸虫病、麻风病和利什曼病的发病机制和治疗。 热带医学研究中心将加强与 美国科学家并为美国提供机会 研究人员对热带疾病进行研究。 重大疾病 在巴西巴伊亚州流行的疾病包括：利什曼病， 血吸虫病、丝虫病、南美锥虫病、麻风病、疟疾和 类圆线虫病 总体目标是增加我们对宿主防御的理解 抗S.和利什曼原虫的感染，并改进 治疗利什曼病和麻风病。 项目1，免疫系统中的宿主免疫反应 血吸虫病将确定有助于宿主抵抗的因素， 再感染 具体目标是将细胞免疫反应 对S.曼氏感染和鉴定抗原， 参与免疫保护。 项目2，人类T细胞反应 利什曼病将检查T细胞反应和细胞毒性细胞的作用 在控制利什曼原虫感染和组织学方面， 皮肤、粘膜和内脏利什曼原虫感染和组织学 皮肤、粘膜和内脏利什曼病方面。 项目三， 麻风病和利什曼病的免疫治疗将评估伽马治疗 干扰素联合常规疗法治疗 弥漫性皮肤利什曼病和麻风病。 患者 利什曼病和血吸虫病将从流行地区招募 位于巴西巴伊亚州。

The main objective of this program is to expand our knowledge of the pathogenesis and treatment of schistosomiasis, leprosy and leishmaniasis. The Tropical Medicine Research Center will increase our collaboration with American scientists and provide opportunities for United States investigators to conduct research on tropical diseases. Major diseases which are endemic in the State of Bahia, brazil include: leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, filariasis, Chagas' disease, leprosy, malaria and strongyloidiasis. The overall goals are to increase our understanding of host defense mechanisms against S. mansoni and leishmania and to improve methods for the treatment of leishmaniasis and leprosy. Project 1, Host Immune Response in Schistosomiasis will identify factors contributing to host resistance to reinfection. The specific aim is to correlate cellular immune responses with susceptibility to S. mansoni infection and to identify antigens that are involved in immuno protection. Project 2, T Cell responses in Human Leishmaniasis will examine T cell responses and the role of cytotoxic cells in the control of leishmania infection and histological aspects of cutaneous, mucosal and visceral leishmania infection and histological aspects of cutaneous, mucosal and visceral leishmaniasis. Project 3, Immunotherapy of Leprosy and Leishmaniasis will evaluate therapy with gamma interferon in combination with conventional therapy in patients with diffuse and cutaneous leishmaniasis and leprosy. Patients with leishmaniasis and schistosomiasis will be recruited from endemic areas located within the State of Bahia, Brazil.