Abstract
Dendritic cells can initiate antimicrobial responses by CD1-mediated presentation of pathogen-derived glycolipids. We show that the protozoan Leishmania donovani inhibits CD1 expression and prevents activation of CD1-restricted T cells by dendritic cells. Evasion of presentation by CD1 may represent a Leishmania survival strategy to avoid recognition of abundant parasite glycolipids.