Evaluation of a New Topical Treatment for the Control of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Author(s)

Martinez-Salazar, Berenice ^[1] ; Carregaro Pereira, Vanessa ^[1] ; Hauyon-La-Torre, Yazmin ^[1] ; Khamesipour, Ali ^[2] ; Tacchini-Cottier, Fabienne ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Lausanne, Dept Biochem, CH-1066 Epalinges - Switzerland

^[2] Univ Tehran Med Sci, Ctr Res & Training Skin Dis & Leprosy, Tehran 14166 - Iran

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MICROORGANISMS; v. 8, n. 11 NOV 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Leishmania major (L. major) causes cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Old World. The infection mostly induces a localized lesion restricted to the sand fly bite. The costs and the side effects of current treatments render imperative the development of new therapies that are affordable and easy to administrate. Topical treatment would be the ideal option for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. MF29 is a 3-haloacetamidobenzoate that was shown in vitro to inhibit tubulin assembly in Leishmania. Here, we tested a topical cream formulated with MF29. BALB/c mice were infected in the ear dermis with L. major metacyclic promastigotes and once the lesion appeared, mice were treated with different concentrations of MF29 and compared to the control group treated with the cream used as the vehicle. We observed that topical application of MF29 reduced the progression of the infection while control groups developed an unhealing lesion that became necrotic. The treatment decreased the type 2 immune response. Comparison with SinaAmphoLeish, another topical treatment, revealed that MF29 treatment once a day was sufficient to control lesion development, while application SinaAmphoLeish needed applications twice daily. Collectively, our data suggest that MF-29 topical application could be a promising topical treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/21926-0 - Influence of the neutrophil infection upon the virulence factors of the Leishmania mexicana and Leishmania major parasites
• Grantee: Vanessa Carregaro Pereira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research