title: Chemotherapy of leishmaniasis: present challenges.
abstract: Cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis are amongst the most devastating infectious diseases of our time, affecting millions of people worldwide. The treatment of these serious diseases rely on a few chemotherapeutic agents, most of which are of parenteral use and induce severe side-effects. Furthermore, rates of treatment failure are high and have been linked to drug resistance in some areas. Here, we reviewed data on current chemotherapy practice in leishmaniasis. Drug resistance and mechanisms of resistance are described as well as the prospects for applying drug combinations for leishmaniasis chemotherapy. It is clear that efforts for discovering new drugs applicable to leishmaniasis chemotherapy are essential. The main aspects on the various steps of drug discovery in the field are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia,Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas,Universidade de São Paulo,Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 1374,05508-000 São Paulo,Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvia R B
authors.initials: SRB
authors.lastname: Uliana
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia,Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas,Universidade de São Paulo,Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 1374,05508-000 São Paulo,Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiana T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Trinconi
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia,Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas,Universidade de São Paulo,Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 1374,05508-000 São Paulo,Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriano C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Coelho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006224:Cricetinae; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000379:methods*; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple / Q000235:genetics; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007891:Leishmania / Q000187:drug effects*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents
keywords: animal models; combination therapy; drug resistance; drug screening; leishmaniasis treatment