Title:Recent Advances in Vaccines Against Leishmania Based on Patent Applications
VOLUME: 12 ISSUE: 1
Author(s):Vanete Thomaz-Soccol*, Eduardo Scopel Ferreira da Costa, Susan Grace Karp, Luiz Alberto Junior Letti, Flavia Thomaz Soccol and Carlos Ricardo Soccol
Affiliation:Department of Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, Department of Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, Department of Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, Department of Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, Graduate Program in Environmental Law, Pontifícia Universidade Catolica do Parana–PUCPR, Curitiba, Department of Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba
Keywords:Cutaneous leishmaniasis, innovation, leishmaniasis, patents, vaccine, visceral leishmaniasis.
Abstract:Background: Leishmaniasis is caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania, and represents a
group of chronic diseases with an epidemiological and clinical diversity. The disease is endemic in tropical
regions, being found in 98 countries, affecting around 12 million people, with an estimated increase
of 1.5 million per year.
Methods: The present review aims to analyze recent and most important patents regarding development
of vaccines to improve immunization against leishmaniasis. For this purpose, the Web of Science –
Derwent Innovations Index was consulted. There is also a short description of the licensed vaccines already
on the market for commercialization, and a critical opinion on future developments.
Results: The data herein presented comprises national and international filings, thus considering the patent's
country of origin, and can be used an indicator of a country's technological development regarding
a specific field. Several types of vaccines against Leishmania were studied. The main classes comprise:
vaccines using live cells (virulent or attenuated); dead cells; containing recombinant protein; using
DNA of the parasite. United States (74 patents) leads the ranking of patent applications for vaccines
against Leishmania, followed by Brazil (36 patents), which is an endemic region of leishmaniasis with
20,000 human cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis and over 3,000 cases of visceral form.
Conclusion: This review showed that there is still a lot of space for development regarding the creation
of a feasible, effective vaccine against leishmaniasis. The scientific community appears to be taking
steps in the right direction, though.
