title: Leishmaniasis treatment--a challenge that remains: a review.
abstract: Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by flagellate protozoan Leishmania spp. and represents an emergent illness with high morbidity and mortality in the tropics and subtropics. Since the discovery of the first drugs for Leishmaniasis treatment (i.e., pentavalent antimonials), until the current days, the search for substances with antileishmanial activity, without toxic effects, and able to overcome the emergence of drug resistant strains still remains as the current goal. This article reports the development of new chemotherapies through the rational design of new drugs, the use of products derived from microorganisms and plants, and treatments related to immunity as new alternatives for the chemotherapy of leishmaniasis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biopatógenos e Ativação Celular, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Av. Barros-Terra s/n Valonguinho, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro CEP 24001-970, Brazil. santosdilvani@gmail.com
authors.forename: Dilvani O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Carlos E R
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Coutinho
authors.forename: Maria F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Madeira
authors.forename: Carolina G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Bottino
authors.forename: Rodrigo T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Samara B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernardino
authors.forename: Saulo C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Bourguignon
authors.forename: Suzana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Corte-Real
authors.forename: Rosa T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Pinho
authors.forename: Carlos Rangel
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Helena C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Castro
mesh_terms: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D001688:Biological Products