Challenges in Chagas Disease Drug Development
The protozoan parasite <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> causes Chagas disease, an important public health problem throughout Latin America. Current therapeutic options are characterised by limited efficacy, long treatment regimens and frequent toxic side-effects. Advances in this area have been...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-06-01
|
| Series: | Molecules |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/12/2799 |
| _version_ | 1797565055541182464 |
|---|---|
| author | Amanda F. Francisco Shiromani Jayawardhana Francisco Olmo Michael D. Lewis Shane R. Wilkinson Martin C. Taylor John M. Kelly |
| author_facet | Amanda F. Francisco Shiromani Jayawardhana Francisco Olmo Michael D. Lewis Shane R. Wilkinson Martin C. Taylor John M. Kelly |
| author_sort | Amanda F. Francisco |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The protozoan parasite <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> causes Chagas disease, an important public health problem throughout Latin America. Current therapeutic options are characterised by limited efficacy, long treatment regimens and frequent toxic side-effects. Advances in this area have been compromised by gaps in our knowledge of disease pathogenesis, parasite biology and drug activity. Nevertheless, several factors have come together to create a more optimistic scenario. Drug-based research has become more systematic, with increased collaborations between the academic and commercial sectors, often within the framework of not-for-profit consortia. High-throughput screening of compound libraries is being widely applied, and new technical advances are helping to streamline the drug development pipeline. In addition, drug repurposing and optimisation of current treatment regimens, informed by laboratory research, are providing a basis for new clinical trials. Here, we will provide an overview of the current status of Chagas disease drug development, highlight those areas where progress can be expected, and describe how fundamental research is helping to underpin the process. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:06:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e7667f57a2e840ffa5852cc9f76f786c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:06:35Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-e7667f57a2e840ffa5852cc9f76f786c2023-11-20T04:07:46ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492020-06-012512279910.3390/molecules25122799Challenges in Chagas Disease Drug DevelopmentAmanda F. Francisco0Shiromani Jayawardhana1Francisco Olmo2Michael D. Lewis3Shane R. Wilkinson4Martin C. Taylor5John M. Kelly6Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UKDepartment of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UKDepartment of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UKDepartment of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UKSchool of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UKDepartment of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UKDepartment of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UKThe protozoan parasite <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> causes Chagas disease, an important public health problem throughout Latin America. Current therapeutic options are characterised by limited efficacy, long treatment regimens and frequent toxic side-effects. Advances in this area have been compromised by gaps in our knowledge of disease pathogenesis, parasite biology and drug activity. Nevertheless, several factors have come together to create a more optimistic scenario. Drug-based research has become more systematic, with increased collaborations between the academic and commercial sectors, often within the framework of not-for-profit consortia. High-throughput screening of compound libraries is being widely applied, and new technical advances are helping to streamline the drug development pipeline. In addition, drug repurposing and optimisation of current treatment regimens, informed by laboratory research, are providing a basis for new clinical trials. Here, we will provide an overview of the current status of Chagas disease drug development, highlight those areas where progress can be expected, and describe how fundamental research is helping to underpin the process.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/12/2799<i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i>Chagas diseasedrug development |
| spellingShingle | Amanda F. Francisco Shiromani Jayawardhana Francisco Olmo Michael D. Lewis Shane R. Wilkinson Martin C. Taylor John M. Kelly Challenges in Chagas Disease Drug Development Molecules <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> Chagas disease drug development |
| title | Challenges in Chagas Disease Drug Development |
| title_full | Challenges in Chagas Disease Drug Development |
| title_fullStr | Challenges in Chagas Disease Drug Development |
| title_full_unstemmed | Challenges in Chagas Disease Drug Development |
| title_short | Challenges in Chagas Disease Drug Development |
| title_sort | challenges in chagas disease drug development |
| topic | <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> Chagas disease drug development |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/12/2799 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT amandaffrancisco challengesinchagasdiseasedrugdevelopment AT shiromanijayawardhana challengesinchagasdiseasedrugdevelopment AT franciscoolmo challengesinchagasdiseasedrugdevelopment AT michaeldlewis challengesinchagasdiseasedrugdevelopment AT shanerwilkinson challengesinchagasdiseasedrugdevelopment AT martinctaylor challengesinchagasdiseasedrugdevelopment AT johnmkelly challengesinchagasdiseasedrugdevelopment |