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Abstract
Leishmania are protozoan parasites belonging to the order kinetoplastidae that are responsible for a wide variety of diseases in humans. These diseases range from cutaneous (oriental), mucocutaneous (espundia) to visceral leishmaniasis (kalaazar) which, when symptomatic, is fatal unless treated The parasites invade and multiply within specific cells of the human immunity system, macrophages and monocytes. No prophylactic strategies currently exist, however, development of protective immunity following intentional inoculation with Leishmania infected tissue, a commonly crude vaccination practice in the Middle East, provides a notion that vaccination against leishmaniasis is within the reach of modern science. The studies of my thesis aim at the generation of recombinant Leishmania strains, using gene transfection technologies, that express exogenous genes capable to alter parasite infectivity and consequently the outcome of the disease. These parasite strains could constitute interesting candidates for the development of a live vaccine.