Emerging computational technologies in human leishmaniasis: where are we?

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Computational Biology
• Tropical Medicine

Background:

• Human leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) causing significant morbidity, predominantly in low- to middle-income countries.
• Current diagnostic, treatment, and control methods for leishmaniasis are outdated, posing challenges for effective disease management.
• Computational methods are widely adopted in medicine in developed nations but are underutilized for NTDs like leishmaniasis.

Approach:

• This narrative review systematically explores existing electronic tools (e-tools) relevant to leishmaniasis management.
• The review covers the spectrum of leishmaniasis control, including drug discovery, epidemiological surveillance, and treatment strategies.
• It highlights the potential of computational approaches to address the challenges in managing this NTD.

Key Points:

• Limited application of advanced computational technologies in leishmaniasis research and control.
• The potential of e-tools for enhancing drug discovery and development pipelines for leishmaniasis.
• Exploration of computational approaches for improved diagnosis, treatment, and epidemiological monitoring of leishmaniasis.
• Addressing the challenges in R&D for NTDs due to geographical and socioeconomic factors.

Conclusions:

• Computational methods present a significant, yet largely untapped, potential for improving the diagnosis, treatment, and control of human leishmaniasis.
• There is a critical need to develop and implement advanced e-tools to overcome the challenges associated with managing this neglected tropical disease.
• Further research and development are essential to bridge the gap between theoretical computational advancements and their practical application in leishmaniasis management.