Abstract
Trypanosomiases and leishmaniases are neglected tropical diseases that have been spreading to previously non-affected areas in recent years. Identification of new chemotherapeutics is needed as there are no vaccines and the currently available treatment options are highly toxic and often ineffective. The causative agents for these diseases are the protozoan parasites of the Trypanosomatidae family, and they alternate between invertebrate and vertebrate hosts during their life cycles. Hence, these parasites must be able to adapt to different environments and compete with their hosts for several essential compounds, such as amino acids, vitamins, ions, carbohydrates, and lipids. Among these nutrients, lipids and fatty acids (FAs) are essential for parasite survival. Trypanosomatids require massive amounts of FAs, and they can either synthesize FAs de novo or scavenge them from the host. Moreover, FAs are the major energy source during specific life cycle stages of T. brucei, T. cruzi, and Leishmania. Therefore, considering the distinctive features of FAs metabolism in trypanosomatids, these pathways could be exploited for the development of novel antiparasitic drugs. In this review, we highlight specific aspects of lipid and FA metabolism in the protozoan parasites T. brucei, T. cruzi, and Leishmania spp., as well as the pathways that have been explored for the development of new chemotherapies.
Highlights
Trypanosomiases and leishmaniases are vector-borne diseases caused by protozoan parasites of the Trypanosomatidae family
RNA interference (RNAi) experiments revealed that Lipid droplets (LDs) biogenesis in these parasites relies on a protein kinase, called lipid droplet kinase (LDK) [54], and a lipin-like enzyme that converts phosphatidic acid PLs into diacylglycerol (DAG), called TbLpn, which is essential for procyclic forms (PCFs) growth [63]
SUMMARY AND PERSPECTIVES Lipids and fatty acids (FAs) are among the nutrients that trypanosomatid parasites rely on their hosts to survive and replicate
Summary
Trypanosomiases and leishmaniases are vector-borne diseases caused by protozoan parasites of the Trypanosomatidae family. FAs are the major energy source during specific life cycle stages of T. brucei, T. cruzi, and Leishmania. We highlight specific aspects of lipid and FA metabolism in the protozoan parasites T. brucei, T. cruzi, and Leishmania spp., as well as the pathways that have been explored for the development of new chemotherapies.
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