Parasites from genus Leishmania ? are intracellular obligate protozoan responsible for causing human and animal complex of diseases called leishmaniasis. Transmission occurs mainly after vector biting (genus Lutzomyia ? or Phloebotomus ? ). When Leishmania enters vertebrate host, its immune system is activated and starts to fight against infection by innate (phagocytes, NK cells and complement system) and adaptive (cytokine and antibody production) immune responses. Parasite can evade immune response providing chronic infection. Basic Leishmania evasion-related mechanisms will be revised.
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