Leishmaniasis is a protozoal vector-borne disease that affects both humans and animals. In the Mediterranean Basin, the primary reservoir hosts of Leishmania spp. are mainly rodents and canids. Lipidomic approaches have allowed scientists to establish Leishmania spp. lipid profiles for the identification of cell stage specific biomarkers, drug mechanisms of action, and host immune response. Using an in silico approach of global network interaction between genes involved in fatty acid (FA) synthesis followed by the GC-MS approach, we were able to characterize the fatty acid profiles of L. major derived from human and rodent hosts. Our results revealed that the lipid profile of L. major showed similarities and differences with those already reported for other Leishmania species. Phospholipids are the predominant lipid class. FA composition of rodent parasites was characterized by a lower abundance of the precursor C18:2(n-6). One of the rodent clones, which also expressed the lowest lipid abundance in PL and TAG, was the least sensitive clone to the miltefosine drug and has the lowest infection efficiency. Our findings suggest that the lipid composition variation may explain the response of the parasite toward treatment and their ability to infect their host.

Addressing complex global health challenges such as epidemic preparedness, environmental impacts, and equitable healthcare access requires collaborative and interdisciplinary efforts. Social sciences and humanities (SSH) play a crucial role in understanding the historical and social contexts of disease outbreaks and in shaping strategies and guidelines informed by lessons from past epidemics. Qualitative methods, central to SSH, offer valuable insights by uncovering real-world practices, social dynamics, and power structures that often remain invisible to quantitative approaches. Effective interdisciplinarity depends on strong leadership, shared vision, clear role definitions, and dedicated time for collaboration. However, these elements are often overlooked, limiting the integration of social sciences and the development of comprehensive solutions during epidemic responses. Here we share the experience of establishing SSH within the Pasteur Network members institutions in Africa and the creation of a dedicated social science network called the African SSH Pasteur Network. We describe the process of building this network to meet growing demands for SSH expertise in health research programmes and discuss the challenges encountered and strategies employed to sustain its development.