As part of GHTM | IHMT’s World Zoonoses Day celebrations, the miL3DSkin project highlights how veterinary research can contribute to a better understanding of zoonotic diseases through a One Health perspective.
Among zoonotic diseases, leishmaniasis remains a major public health challenge in many regions of the world, affecting both humans and animals. Dogs are the primary domestic reservoir of Leishmania parasites, playing a key role in the transmission cycle and reinforcing the importance of protecting animal health to safeguard human health.
Contributing to this effort, Armanda Rodrigues, researcher at the VBD-GHTM Research Group, is leading the project entitled Understanding Canine Leishmaniasis Through a One Health Perspective (miL3DSkin), funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, Ref. 2023.11944.PEX).
The project focuses on the skin—the first point of contact between the parasite and its host—to better understand the early stages of infection. Using innovative three-dimensional (3D) canine skin models alongside advanced molecular biology approaches, the research team is investigating how Leishmania parasites interact with canine skin cells and modulate the host immune response.
The project also explores the biological role of naturally secreted parasite-derived small extracellular vesicles (EVs) and how both the parasites and these EVs may influence host gene regulation through microRNA-mediated mechanisms.
By uncovering these molecular interactions, miL3DSkin aims to advance knowledge of canine leishmaniasis while contributing to the broader One Health agenda. A better understanding of host–parasite interactions may pave the way for more accurate diagnostic tools, innovative therapeutic strategies, and improved disease prevention measures, ultimately helping to reduce the burden of this zoonotic disease on animals, people, and communities.
The miL3DSkin project exemplifies how veterinary research can generate knowledge with benefits that extend beyond animal health, supporting global efforts to tackle zoonotic diseases through interdisciplinary science and collaboration.
This article is published as part of the World Zoonoses Day celebrations. To learn more about our work on neglected tropical diseases, see our related news:
