Tackling Sleeping Sickness: Current and Promising Therapeutics and Treatment Strategies
Human African trypanosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the extracellular protozoan parasite <i>Trypanosoma brucei</i>, and targeted for eradication by 2030. The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the lengthening of the proposed time frame for eliminating human African tryp...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/15/12529 |
| _version_ | 1797586522775486464 |
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| author | Miebaka Jamabo Maduma Mahlalela Adrienne L. Edkins Aileen Boshoff |
| author_facet | Miebaka Jamabo Maduma Mahlalela Adrienne L. Edkins Aileen Boshoff |
| author_sort | Miebaka Jamabo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Human African trypanosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the extracellular protozoan parasite <i>Trypanosoma brucei</i>, and targeted for eradication by 2030. The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the lengthening of the proposed time frame for eliminating human African trypanosomiasis as control programs were interrupted. Armed with extensive antigenic variation and the depletion of the B cell population during an infectious cycle, attempts to develop a vaccine have remained unachievable. With the absence of a vaccine, control of the disease has relied heavily on intensive screening measures and the use of drugs. The chemotherapeutics previously available for disease management were plagued by issues such as toxicity, resistance, and difficulty in administration. The approval of the latest and first oral drug, fexinidazole, is a major chemotherapeutic achievement for the treatment of human African trypanosomiasis in the past few decades. Timely and accurate diagnosis is essential for effective treatment, while poor compliance and resistance remain outstanding challenges. Drug discovery is on-going, and herein we review the recent advances in anti-trypanosomal drug discovery, including novel potential drug targets. The numerous challenges associated with disease eradication will also be addressed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:24:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-65a2f1367b744f28beec6395401a465d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:24:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-65a2f1367b744f28beec6395401a465d2023-11-18T23:06:17ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672023-08-0124151252910.3390/ijms241512529Tackling Sleeping Sickness: Current and Promising Therapeutics and Treatment StrategiesMiebaka Jamabo0Maduma Mahlalela1Adrienne L. Edkins2Aileen Boshoff3Biotechnology Innovation Centre, Rhodes University, Makhanda 6139, South AfricaBiotechnology Innovation Centre, Rhodes University, Makhanda 6139, South AfricaDepartment of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Biomedical Biotechnology Research Centre (BioBRU), Rhodes University, Makhanda 6139, South AfricaBiotechnology Innovation Centre, Rhodes University, Makhanda 6139, South AfricaHuman African trypanosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the extracellular protozoan parasite <i>Trypanosoma brucei</i>, and targeted for eradication by 2030. The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the lengthening of the proposed time frame for eliminating human African trypanosomiasis as control programs were interrupted. Armed with extensive antigenic variation and the depletion of the B cell population during an infectious cycle, attempts to develop a vaccine have remained unachievable. With the absence of a vaccine, control of the disease has relied heavily on intensive screening measures and the use of drugs. The chemotherapeutics previously available for disease management were plagued by issues such as toxicity, resistance, and difficulty in administration. The approval of the latest and first oral drug, fexinidazole, is a major chemotherapeutic achievement for the treatment of human African trypanosomiasis in the past few decades. Timely and accurate diagnosis is essential for effective treatment, while poor compliance and resistance remain outstanding challenges. Drug discovery is on-going, and herein we review the recent advances in anti-trypanosomal drug discovery, including novel potential drug targets. The numerous challenges associated with disease eradication will also be addressed.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/15/12529African trypanosomiasis<i>Trypanosoma brucei</i>sleeping sicknessdrug discoverydrug targetCOVID-19 |
| spellingShingle | Miebaka Jamabo Maduma Mahlalela Adrienne L. Edkins Aileen Boshoff Tackling Sleeping Sickness: Current and Promising Therapeutics and Treatment Strategies International Journal of Molecular Sciences African trypanosomiasis <i>Trypanosoma brucei</i> sleeping sickness drug discovery drug target COVID-19 |
| title | Tackling Sleeping Sickness: Current and Promising Therapeutics and Treatment Strategies |
| title_full | Tackling Sleeping Sickness: Current and Promising Therapeutics and Treatment Strategies |
| title_fullStr | Tackling Sleeping Sickness: Current and Promising Therapeutics and Treatment Strategies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tackling Sleeping Sickness: Current and Promising Therapeutics and Treatment Strategies |
| title_short | Tackling Sleeping Sickness: Current and Promising Therapeutics and Treatment Strategies |
| title_sort | tackling sleeping sickness current and promising therapeutics and treatment strategies |
| topic | African trypanosomiasis <i>Trypanosoma brucei</i> sleeping sickness drug discovery drug target COVID-19 |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/15/12529 |
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