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Leishmaniasis | August 2025

Dr. Gosia Domagalska: Outwitting Leishmania

Leishmania. Promastigotes of Leishmania parasite which are found in mosquito midgut or laboratory cultures. Leishmania tropic, Leishmania major, Leishmania donovani or other Leishmania

In the quiet corridors of the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) in Antwerp, Belgium, Dr. Malgorzata “Gosia” Domagalska is leading the fight against one of the world’s most neglected yet devastating diseases: leishmaniasis. As head of ITM’s newly established Unit of Experimental Parasitology, she has dedicated her career to understanding how parasites adapt, survive, and outwit medicine.

Image of Malgorzata Domagalska
Dr. Malgorzata “Gosia” Domagalska
Institute of Tropical Medicine

Domagalska’s path to parasitology was anything but straightforward. Trained as a geneticist, she earned her PhD in Plant Genetics at the Max Planck Institute in Cologne, followed by a Marie Curie Fellowship at the University of York. Early on, her research focused on plant development and hormones. But a shift came when she joined ITM in 2015: “This work is compelling not just scientifically, but socially,” she has said.

Her research now centers on the molecular survival strategies of Leishmania, using single-cell sequencing and molecular genetics to unravel how these parasites respond to drug pressure. Understanding these mechanisms, Domagalska believes, is the key to combating resistance and ultimately saving lives. “These parasites are extremely resilient – we need to understand their adaptive mechanisms to develop strategies that target and disrupt them effectively,” she explains.

For Domagalska, science is inseparable from collaboration. Beyond Antwerp, her network stretches across more than ten endemic countries, from Morocco and Nepal to Peru, India, and Kenya, as well as partners in Europe and North America. “We all share our knowledge with one another to achieve meaningful results,” she says, emphasizing the importance of building sustainable capacity in the regions most affected.

Looking ahead, Domagalska hopes to map the full spectrum of how parasites like Leishmania and Trypanosoma cruzi adapt under stress, especially during drug treatment. Her work is a reminder that science, at its best, is not just about discovery, but about making those discoveries count where they matter most.

*All information obtained from the Institute of Tropical Medicine

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Public Health Landscape or Valent BioSciences, LLC.

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Leishmaniasis – Plain and Simple

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease that few people have heard of, but one you definitely don’t want to catch. Caused by Leishmania parasites and spread by the bite of female sand flies, it can silently linger in the body for years or surface in devastating ways, from painful skin sores to organ damage that can be fatal. The disease affects both humans and dogs, with our canine companions often acting as unwitting reservoirs that keep the infection circulating.

As climate change expands the habitat of sand flies into new regions, the threat of leishmaniasis continues to grow. With no reliable cure and limited vaccine options, prevention is key. Protecting yourself and your pets with repellents, protective gear, and vigilance is the most effective way to guard against this serious but often overlooked disease.

Sand Flies: The Silent Biters Spreading A Deadly Disease

Phlebotomine sand flies are notorious biters. They not only cause great irritation but are also capable of spreading a deadly disease – visceral leishmaniasis.

While the World Health Organization states that currently 1 billion people live in areas endemic for leishmaniasis and at risk of contracting the disease, a recent study using a statistical model, predicted that visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is undergoing geographic expansion and 5.3 billion people could be at risk of acquiring the disease in the future.

Leishmaniasis currently occurs in approximately 90 countries. These countries are located in the warmer climates where sand flies thrive: in the tropics, subtropics, and in Southern Europe. Climate change and other variations in the environment have the potential to expand the geographical range of where sand flies can live and therefore where the disease can infiltrate the human population.

Epidemiology of Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease spread by the bite of infected female sandflies. It can affect the skin, mucous membranes, or internal organs. The most serious form, visceral leishmaniasis (VL), damages the liver, spleen, bone marrow, and kidneys, and is caused mainly by Leishmania donovani and Leishmania infantum.

Every year, 1–2 million people are affected, with over 90% of cases concentrated in just 13 countries. While many infections show no symptoms, untreated VL is usually fatal. Malnutrition, HIV co-infection, genetics, and young age (especially under 5) increase the risk of severe disease.