01757nas a2200229   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653003800055653003100093653001100124653001200135653002500147100001500172700001900187700001200206700002200218245009800240300001100338490000600349520115800355022001401513       2011                            d  c2011 Feb10aGenetic Predisposition to Disease10aHost-Pathogen Interactions10aHumans10aleprosy10aMycobacterium leprae1 aPinheiro R1 aSouza Salles J1 aSarno E1 aPereira Sampaio E00aMycobacterium leprae-host-cell interactions and genetic determinants in leprosy: an overview.  a217-300 v63 a<p>Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae in which susceptibility to the mycobacteria and its clinical manifestations are attributed to the host immune response. Even though leprosy prevalence has decreased dramatically, the high number of new cases indicates active transmission. Owing to its singular features, M. leprae infection is an attractive model for investigating the regulation of human immune responses to pathogen-induced disease. Leprosy is one of the most common causes of nontraumatic peripheral neuropathy worldwide. The proportion of patients with disabilities is affected by the type of leprosy and delay in diagnosis. This article briefly reviews the clinical features as well as the immunopathological mechanisms related to the establishment of the different polar forms of leprosy, the mechanisms related to M. leprae-host cell interactions and prophylaxis and diagnosis of this complex disease. Host genetic factors are summarized and the impact of the development of interventions that prevent, reverse or limit leprosy-related nerve impairments are discussed.</p>  a1746-0921