Leptospira is a stealth pathogen that survives by evading early host immune defenses. This project investigates how Leptospira circumvents Toll-like receptor signaling, resists complement-mediated killing, and escapes phagocytosis by innate immune cells. By identifying immune pathways and bacterial factors involved in immune evasion, we aim to uncover actionable targets for vaccine and diagnostic development.

Both pathogens and host cells release extracellular vesicles that profoundly influence immune signalling. This project examines the role of Leptospira-derived outer membrane vesicles and host exosomes in immune modulation during infection. We also evaluate their potential as innovative, next-generation vaccine platforms capable of delivering immunogenic components in a physiologically relevant context.