Abstract
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) as termed by WHO include twenty different infectious diseases that are caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Among these NTDs, Chagas disease and leishmaniasis are reported to cause high mortality in humans and are further associated with the limitations of existing drugs like severe toxicity and drug resistance. The above hitches have rendered researchers to focus on developing alternatives and novel therapeutics for the treatment of these diseases. In the past decade, several target-based drugs have emerged, which focus on specific biochemical pathways of the causative parasites. For leishmaniasis, the targets such as nucleoside analogs, inhibitors targeting nucleoside phosphate kinases of the parasite’s purine salvage pathway, 20S proteasome of Leishmania, mitochondria, and the associated proteins are reviewed along with the chemical structures of potential drug candidates. Similarly, in case of therapeutics for Chagas disease, several target-based drug candidates targeting sterol biosynthetic pathway (C14-ademethylase), L-cysteine protease, heme peroxidation, mitochondria, farnesyl pyrophosphate, etc., which are vital and unique to the causative parasite are discussed. Moreover, the use of nano-based formulations towards the therapeutics of the above diseases is also discussed.
Highlights
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) include a group of diverse infectious diseases that are more prevalent in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world
Cyclodextrinsbenznidazole complexes were reported to be relatively lower than that of benznidazole in its free form (Vinuesa et al, 2017). The spread of both leishmaniasis and Chagas disease is under control, the threat still exists because of limited therapeutics and increasing incidents of drug resistance
The various therapeutic strategies, drug targets, and drugs for leishmaniasis and Chagas disease were discussed. The significance of these two diseases based on the economic burden and the disability caused by them has opened new avenues for novel therapeutics and drug targets
Summary
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) include a group of diverse infectious diseases that are more prevalent in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Other Targets and Inhibitors Under Investigation Mitochondria, being one of the most important organelles for parasites, with their unique properties and proteins that differ from mammalian hosts, serve as a potential target for the development of therapeutics against parasitic infections like leishmaniasis (Tasbihi et al, 2019).
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