Leishmaniases: Strategies in treatment development

Area of Science:

• Parasitology
• Infectious Diseases
• Drug Discovery

Background:

• Leishmaniases are vector-borne parasitic diseases affecting over a billion people globally.
• The disease presents in various forms, from cutaneous to fatal visceral leishmaniasis.
• Current treatments are invasive, toxic, expensive, and face growing drug resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in alternative treatments for leishmaniasis.
• To address limitations of current therapies including cost, toxicity, and resistance.
• To present diverse strategies for novel leishmaniasis treatment development.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent advancements in leishmaniasis treatment.
• Categorization of treatment strategies into five key areas.
• Analysis of existing approved treatments and their limitations.

Main Results:

• Combination therapies enhance efficacy and reduce resistance.
• Nanoparticle formulations allow targeted delivery and improved efficiency.
• Drug repositioning, immunomodulation, and ethnobotanicals show promise.

Conclusions:

• Alternative treatments offer advantages over conventional leishmaniasis therapies.
• Strategies like nanoparticles and ethnobotanicals show potential for improved outcomes.
• Further research is needed to overcome limitations of novel treatment approaches.