Abstract
Bacterial infections represent a major health problem, especially in third world countries. In endemic regions, large populations of people are greatly affected, but the medical care is very limited. In this review, the neglected diseases buruli ulcer and trachoma are elucidated. Buruli ulcer is caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans which produces an outstanding immunosuppressive toxin mycolactone that induces an ulcerative, necrotic skin disease. Until today, only the combination of rifampin/streptomycin is used to treat buruli ulcer. However, this therapy is ineffective and expensive. Here, we report new findings that suggest pharmaceutical formulations such as rifapentine, in combination with clarithromycin or moxifloxacin that have shown promising results in mice footpad trials. Moreover, alternative treatment options such as heat therapy, nitric oxide cremes and French clay show bactericidal effects. The genotyping of M. ulcerans also promises new ways of finding drug targets and vaccines. Trachoma, induced by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, is the primary infectious cause of blindness worldwide. Recurrent infections lead to chronic inflammation of the upper tarsal conjunctiva. As a consequence, scarring and distortion of the eye lids occur, eventually resulting in blindness. First-line medications for trachoma treatment are bacteriostatic agents such as topically applied tetracylines and systematically administered azithromycin. Surgery, environmental improvements and personal hygiene are further crucial factors in controlling trachoma. Moreover, efforts are being undertaken towards the development of vaccine systems, with the major outer membrane protein and the polymorphic membrane protein acting as attractive candidates.
Keywords: Azithromycin, buruli ulcer, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycobacterium ulcerans, phase change material, rifapentine, trachoma, tetracycline
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Neglected Diseases Caused By Bacterial Infections
Volume: 17 Issue: 1
Author(s): M. Bechtle, S. Chen and T. Efferth
Affiliation:
Keywords: Azithromycin, buruli ulcer, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycobacterium ulcerans, phase change material, rifapentine, trachoma, tetracycline
Abstract: Bacterial infections represent a major health problem, especially in third world countries. In endemic regions, large populations of people are greatly affected, but the medical care is very limited. In this review, the neglected diseases buruli ulcer and trachoma are elucidated. Buruli ulcer is caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans which produces an outstanding immunosuppressive toxin mycolactone that induces an ulcerative, necrotic skin disease. Until today, only the combination of rifampin/streptomycin is used to treat buruli ulcer. However, this therapy is ineffective and expensive. Here, we report new findings that suggest pharmaceutical formulations such as rifapentine, in combination with clarithromycin or moxifloxacin that have shown promising results in mice footpad trials. Moreover, alternative treatment options such as heat therapy, nitric oxide cremes and French clay show bactericidal effects. The genotyping of M. ulcerans also promises new ways of finding drug targets and vaccines. Trachoma, induced by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, is the primary infectious cause of blindness worldwide. Recurrent infections lead to chronic inflammation of the upper tarsal conjunctiva. As a consequence, scarring and distortion of the eye lids occur, eventually resulting in blindness. First-line medications for trachoma treatment are bacteriostatic agents such as topically applied tetracylines and systematically administered azithromycin. Surgery, environmental improvements and personal hygiene are further crucial factors in controlling trachoma. Moreover, efforts are being undertaken towards the development of vaccine systems, with the major outer membrane protein and the polymorphic membrane protein acting as attractive candidates.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Bechtle M., Chen S. and Efferth T., Neglected Diseases Caused By Bacterial Infections, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2010; 17 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986710789957814
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986710789957814 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Advances in Medicinal Chemistry: From Cancer to Chronic Diseases.
The broad spectrum of the issue will provide a comprehensive overview of emerging trends, novel therapeutic interventions, and translational insights that impact modern medicine. The primary focus will be diseases of global concern, including cancer, chronic pain, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune conditions, providing a broad overview of the advancements in ...read more
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Non-Infectious Inflammatory Diseases: Focus on Clinical Implications
The Special Issue covers the results of the studies on cellular and molecular mechanisms of non-infectious inflammatory diseases, in particular, autoimmune rheumatic diseases, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and other age-related disorders such as type II diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, etc. Review and research articles as well as methodology papers that summarize ...read more
Chalcogen-modified nucleic acid analogues
Chalcogen-modified nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides have been of great interest to scientific research for many years. The replacement of oxygen in the nucleobase, sugar or phosphate backbone by chalcogen atoms (sulfur, selenium, tellurium) gives these biomolecules unique properties resulting from their altered physical and chemical properties. The continuing interest in ...read more
Current advances in inherited cardiomyopathy
Describe in detail all novel advances in multimodality imaging related to inherited cardiomyopathy diagnosis and prognosis. Shed light to deeper phenotypic characterization. Acknowledge recent advances in genetics, genomics and precision medicineread more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Ligand Binding Domain of Vitamin D Receptors
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Store-Dependent Ca2+ Entry in Endothelial Progenitor Cells As a Perspective Tool to Enhance Cell-Based Therapy and Adverse Tumour Vascularization
Current Medicinal Chemistry Application of Computational Techniques to Unravel Structure-Function Relationship and their Role in Therapeutic Development
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Imidazole Scaffold Based Compounds in the Development of Therapeutic Drugs
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Antibody-Drug Conjugate Targets
Current Cancer Drug Targets Interconnection of Estrogen/Testosterone Metabolism and Mevalonate Pathway in Breast and Prostate Cancers
Current Molecular Pharmacology The Pentacyclic Triterpenoids in Herbal Medicines and Their Pharmacological Activities in Diabetes and Diabetic Complications
Current Medicinal Chemistry Genetic Variation in the β2-Adrenergic Receptor: Impact on Intermediate Cardiovascular Phenotypes
Current Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine Nanofibers: New Insights for Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Pharmacodynamics of Radiolabelled Anticancer Drugs for Positron Emission Tomography
Current Pharmaceutical Design JAK Inhibitors: Pharmacology and Clinical Activity in Chronic Myeloprolipherative Neoplasms
Current Medicinal Chemistry CD36 and Intestinal Fatty Acid Absorption
Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Discontinued) The Use of Beneficial Microbial Endophytes for Plant Biomass and Stress Tolerance Improvement
Recent Patents on Biotechnology Neural Stem Cell Transplantation and CNS Diseases
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) and Nicotinic Acid Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate (NAADP): Novel Regulators of Ca 2+-Signaling and Cell Function
Current Molecular Medicine Hitting the Golden TORget: Curcumin’s Effects on mTOR Signaling
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry A Review on Subcutaneous Veins Localization Using Imaging Techniques
Current Medical Imaging Understanding the Cardiovascular Actions of Soy Isoflavones: Potential Novel Targets for Antihypertensive Drug Development
Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders-Drug Targets Natural and Synthetic Coumarin Derivatives with Anti-Inflammatory / Antioxidant Activities
Current Pharmaceutical Design Silymarin in the Prevention and Treatment of Liver Diseases and Primary Liver Cancer
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology