ABSTRACT
The kinetoplastids are a remarkable group of organisms, quite unlike any other. All are unicellular protozoan organisms that represent one of the earliest branches of the eukaryotes. They have many unique and extraordinary characteristics and can tell much about the origin of the eukaryotic lineage. They are also one of the least understood of all orders. Leishmaniasis is not a single entity but describes a very broad spectrum of disease that can be broadly divided into some clinical groups. The commonest is cutaneous leishmaniasis, resulting in one or more ulcerating skin lesions that take months or even years to heal, are prone to secondary infection and lead to permanent scarring. Comparative genomics of the complete genomes of related pathogens is proving to be a useful methodology for generating new targets for drugs and vaccines. The large size of the eukaryotic genomes has meant that, until this was restricted solely to bacterial diseases.
