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Host-directed therapies for infectious diseases: current status, recent progress, and future prospects
Alimuddin Zumla1, Martin Rao2, Robert S Wallis3
1Centre for Clinical Microbiology, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London (UCL), London, UK; National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
The Lancet. Infectious Diseases
|April 3, 2016
Summary
New host-directed therapies offer promising adjuncts to traditional treatments for infectious diseases, aiming to reduce mortality and disability. These strategies leverage insights into pathogen-host interactions and immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Infectious diseases remain a leading cause of death and disability globally, posing significant clinical challenges.
- Current antimicrobial treatments face limitations, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
- Emerging pathogens and ongoing epidemics of diseases like tuberculosis, HIV, and malaria underscore the need for improved interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of host-directed therapies (HDTs) as adjuncts to standard antimicrobial treatments.
- To highlight recent advancements in understanding pathogen-host interactions and immune responses for therapeutic development.
- To discuss clinically relevant examples of HDTs for various infectious diseases.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent scientific literature on pathogen-host interactions, pathogenesis, and immune responses.
- Identification and categorization of various host-directed therapeutic strategies.
- Discussion of clinically relevant examples and their mechanisms of action.
Main Results:
- Host-directed therapies are emerging as viable adjuncts to conventional antimicrobial treatments.
- HDTs encompass a range of approaches including repurposed drugs, immunomodulators, biologics, nutritional products, and cellular therapies.
- Progress has been made in identifying HDTs for bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections.
Conclusions:
- Host-directed therapies represent a promising new frontier in managing infectious diseases.
- These strategies offer a complementary approach to combatting high morbidity and mortality associated with infections.
- Further research and clinical application of HDTs are crucial for improving patient outcomes.
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