Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 21, 2026
11:12
Immunometabolic Circuits in Infection for Advancing Host Directed Therapies
Published on: September 13, 2024
908
Host-directed therapies for parasitic diseases
Bhawana Singh1, Sanjay Varikuti1, Gregory Halsey1
1Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Future Medicinal Chemistry
|August 9, 2019
Summary
Host-directed therapy (HDT) offers a novel approach to combat parasitic infections, targeting host pathways instead of the parasites themselves. This strategy aims to overcome drug resistance and reduce side effects associated with traditional antiparasitic drugs.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Immunology
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- Parasitic infections cause substantial global morbidity and mortality.
- Current antiparasitic drugs face challenges including side effects and emerging drug resistance.
- Novel therapeutic strategies are urgently required for effective parasitic disease management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in host-directed therapy (HDT) for parasitic diseases.
- To highlight the potential of targeting host pathways for treating parasitic infections.
- To discuss the integration of omics and computational biology in identifying HDT targets.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on host-directed therapy for parasitic diseases.
- Analysis of omics (genomics, proteomics) and computational biology approaches.
- Identification and discussion of core regulatory host pathways targeted by HDT.
Main Results:
- HDT represents a promising alternative to conventional antiparasitic drugs.
- Several host pathways have been identified as potential targets for HDT.
- Integration of multi-omics data accelerates the discovery of novel HDT strategies.
Conclusions:
- HDT offers a viable strategy to overcome limitations of current antiparasitic treatments.
- Targeting host pathways provides a new avenue for developing effective therapies against parasitic infections.
- Further research into host-pathogen interactions is crucial for advancing HDT.
Related Concept Videos
00:59Gene Therapy
27.4K
Gene therapy is a technique where a gene is inserted into a person’s cells to prevent or treat a serious disease. The added gene may be a healthy version of the gene that is mutated in the patient, or it could be a different gene that inactivates or compensates for the patient’s disease-causing gene. For example, in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) due to a mutation in the gene for the enzyme adenosine deaminase, a functioning version of the gene can be...
27.4K
02:40Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores
16.6K
Plants often form mutualistic relationships with soil-dwelling fungi or bacteria to enhance their roots’ nutrient uptake ability. Root-colonizing fungi (e.g., mycorrhizae) increase a plant’s root surface area, which promotes nutrient absorption. While root-colonizing, nitrogen-fixing bacteria (e.g., rhizobia) convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3), making nitrogen available to plants for various biological functions. For example, nitrogen is essential for the...
16.6K
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
651
Various diagnostic tests are employed in the diagnostic process for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), particularly to differentiate between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
651
01:26Group Therapy
375
Group therapy is a sociocultural approach to psychological treatment, where individuals with shared psychological challenges come together under the guidance of a mental health professional. This therapeutic modality offers unique opportunities for individuals to connect, share, and grow within the context of a supportive group. By fostering mutual understanding and collaboration, group therapy can address a range of psychological concerns effectively, often complementing or surpassing the...
375
01:09Directing Effect of Substituents: meta-Directing Groups
5.8K
Substituents on the benzene ring that direct an incoming electrophile to undergo substitution at the meta position are called meta directors. All meta directors either have a positive charge on the atom directly bonded to the ring or a partial positive charge. These groups function by withdrawing electrons from the ring through inductive and resonance effects. Consider the carbocation intermediates formed upon the addition of an electrophile on nitrobenzene at the...
5.8K
01:14Directing Effect of Substituents: ortho–para-Directing Groups
8.3K
Ortho–para directors are substituent groups attached to the benzene ring and direct the addition of an electrophile to the positions ortho or para to the substituent. All electron-donating groups are considered ortho–para directors. They donate electrons to the ring and make the ring more electron-rich. The ring is therefore susceptible to the addition of electrophiles. Substituents such as amino, hydroxy, or alkoxy, containing lone pairs on the atom adjacent to the ring, donate...
8.3K