Strategies of Molecular Targeting in Research of Neglected Tropical Diseases with Chemical Compounds or Agents
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Medicinal Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2024 | Viewed by 1019
Special Issue Editor
Interests: posttranslational modifications; drug discovery for neglected tropical diseases; cAMP-regulated pathways in apicomplexan parasites and kinetoplastids
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The eradication of neglected tropical diseases is a major problem, since their life cycle is complex and they can remain latent within the human host. The discovery of novel drugs is scarce since the pharmaceutical industry focuses on the treatment of chronic diseases.
A pharmacological intervention against the increasing drug resistance of these parasites can only be achieved by a combined action of a vaccine or agents of longevity and novel molecularly targeted research. Such molecular research on antiparasitic agents involves either small molecules or drugs that inhibit essential pathways for the survival of the parasite, or cytotoxic compounds which are delivered to the proliferating parasites. Finding alternative methods of molecular targeting through research will also be useful in improving immunity to prevent the spreading of infections.
Finding novel therapeutic indications for already approved drugs is one of the possible strategies in the search for novel medicines. A few antiparasitic drugs and/or their derivatives are proving to be useful in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, tuberculosis, or cancer.
In contrast, some anticancer drugs have the potential to eradicate parasites. This particular Special Issue focuses on chemical drugs or agents in parasite research that contribute to molecularly targeted therapies used to combat neglected tropical diseases.
Prof. Dr. Annette Kaiser
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- molecularly targeted research
- small molecules, including the repurposing of registered drugs to interrupt essential signalling pathways in Plasmodium
- pharmacological compounds to strengthen or inactivate human host immune responses which are critical for the progression of malaria
- inhibitors blocking essential growth factors in Plasmodium
