The redox code of Leishmania : An introduction and critical review of its metabolic strategies

Leishmania parasites use specialized survival mechanisms to endure and grow in unfavorable intracellular settings. A strong redox metabolism is essential for immune evasion and long-term intracellular survival. In contrast to higher eukaryotes, Leishmania uses a distinct thiol-based antioxidant system centered on trypanothione, which is not found in mammalian hosts. Enzymes involved in trypanothione production and recycling play critical roles in parasite pathogenicity and resistance to oxidative stress, making them promising therapeutic targets. This review critically investigates Leishmania’s redox biology, focusing on its involvement in immunological regulation, intracellular persistence, and drug resistance, and addresses novel redox-targeted methods that show promise for the development of safer and more effective antileishmanial medicines.