Chemotherapy of leishmaniasis: present challenges

Author(s)

Uliana, Silvia R. B. ^[1] ; Trinconi, Cristiana T. ^[1] ; Coelho, Adriano C. ^{[2, 1]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Ciencias Biomed, Dept Parasitol, Ave Prof Lineu Prestes 1374, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Biol, Dept Biol Anim, Campinas, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: Parasitology; v. 145, n. 4, SI, p. 464-480, APR 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 30

Abstract

Cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis are amongst the most devastating infectious diseases of our time, affecting millions of people worldwide. The treatment of these serious diseases rely on a few chemotherapeutic agents, most of which are of parenteral use and induce severe side-effects. Furthermore, rates of treatment failure are high and have been linked to drug resistance in some areas. Here, we reviewed data on current chemotherapy practice in leishmaniasis. Drug resistance and mechanisms of resistance are described as well as the prospects for applying drug combinations for leishmaniasis chemotherapy. It is clear that efforts for discovering new drugs applicable to leishmaniasis chemotherapy are essential. The main aspects on the various steps of drug discovery in the field are discussed. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/23832-7 - New approaches to circumvent shortcomings of leishmaniasis treatment: design of an in vitro visceral leishmaniasis model based on the organs-on-a-chip technology and testing of strategies to revert antimony resistance
• Grantee: Cristiana de Melo Trinconi Tronco
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 15/09080-2 - Evaluation of candidate drugs for the treatment of Leishmaniasis in Brazil
• Grantee: Silvia Reni Bortolin Uliana
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 12/14629-5 - Mechanisms of action and resistance to miltefosine in Leishmania spp.
• Grantee: Adriano Cappellazzo Coelho
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate