Abstract
Neglected helminthic diseases cause many social, economic and health care challenges in developing countries. The high number of patients suffering from these parasitic infections and the lack of sufficient treatment options represent severe problems. Research on new drugs and therapies to meet this urgent requirement has to be intensified. This review focuses on infections caused by four helminthic parasites, which have been declared as neglected diseases by the World Health Organization: namely drancunculiasis, lymphatic filariasis, onchoceriasis, and schistosomiasis. They show a considerable overlap in their world-wide prevalence and treatment strategies. Nevertheless, treatment is not without complications. The most efficient lymphatic filariasis drug, diethylcarbamazine, causes severe adverse effects in onchocerciasis patients and completely fails in the treatment of drancunculiasis. In this review, we discuss these incongruities at the molecular and cellular level. Furthermore, established or investigational drug combination regimens are highlighted. In the past years, progress has been made in the area of schistosomiasis and onchocerciasis. The molecular biology of underlying mechanisms, signalling pathways and related targets affected by drug therapy are discussed in detail. Finally, successful treatment strategies and remaining future challenges are summarized.
Keywords: Neglected diseases, lymphatic filariasis, drancunculiasis, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, helminths, anthelminthic drugs
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Chemistry and Pharmacology of Neglected Helminthic Diseases
Volume: 18 Issue: 5
Author(s): A. Mullner, A. Helfer, D. Kotlyar, J. Oswald and T. Efferth
Affiliation:
Keywords: Neglected diseases, lymphatic filariasis, drancunculiasis, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, helminths, anthelminthic drugs
Abstract: Neglected helminthic diseases cause many social, economic and health care challenges in developing countries. The high number of patients suffering from these parasitic infections and the lack of sufficient treatment options represent severe problems. Research on new drugs and therapies to meet this urgent requirement has to be intensified. This review focuses on infections caused by four helminthic parasites, which have been declared as neglected diseases by the World Health Organization: namely drancunculiasis, lymphatic filariasis, onchoceriasis, and schistosomiasis. They show a considerable overlap in their world-wide prevalence and treatment strategies. Nevertheless, treatment is not without complications. The most efficient lymphatic filariasis drug, diethylcarbamazine, causes severe adverse effects in onchocerciasis patients and completely fails in the treatment of drancunculiasis. In this review, we discuss these incongruities at the molecular and cellular level. Furthermore, established or investigational drug combination regimens are highlighted. In the past years, progress has been made in the area of schistosomiasis and onchocerciasis. The molecular biology of underlying mechanisms, signalling pathways and related targets affected by drug therapy are discussed in detail. Finally, successful treatment strategies and remaining future challenges are summarized.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Mullner A., Helfer A., Kotlyar D., Oswald J. and Efferth T., Chemistry and Pharmacology of Neglected Helminthic Diseases, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2011; 18 (5) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986711794480096
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986711794480096 |
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
Approaches to the treatment of chronic inflammation
Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of numerous diseases, significantly impacting global health. Although chronic inflammation is a hot topic, not much has been written about approaches to its treatment. This thematic issue aims to showcase the latest advancements in chronic inflammation treatment and foster discussion on future directions in this ...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
- 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
-
Fluoroquinolones: Blessings Or Curses
Current Drug Targets Myocardial Infarction in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus – the Sex-Specific Risk Profile
Current Pharmaceutical Design Amphotericin B LIPOMER for Enhanced Splenic Delivery
Drug Delivery Letters Susceptibility of Intracellular Coxiella burnetii to Antimicrobial Peptides in Mouse Fibroblast Cells
Protein & Peptide Letters Etiology of Neuroinflammatory Pathologies in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Treatise
Current Psychopharmacology Prevalence and Resistance Profiles of Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcal Isolates in Iran; An Eight-month Report from Nine Major Cities
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Polyproline and Triple Helix Motifs in Host-Pathogen Recognition
Current Protein & Peptide Science Structural Insights into Chitinolytic Enzymes and Inhibition Mechanisms of Selective Inhibitors
Current Pharmaceutical Design Secondary Prevention of Ischemic Stroke
Current Drug Targets In silico Analysis of Toxins of Staphylococcus aureus for Validating Putative Drug Targets
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Bacterial Adaptation and Infection
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued) Unusual Clinical Manifestations of the Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Current Rheumatology Reviews Epidemiological Review of Gonococcal Infection
Current Women`s Health Reviews Dealing with the Substance Abuse Epidemic and Infective Endocarditis:Clinical, Immunologic and Pathogenetic Aspects
Current Vascular Pharmacology Scintigraphic Imaging of Inflammatory Processes
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents Susceptibility of Periodontopathogenic and Cariogenic Bacteria to Defensins and Potential Therapeutic Use of Defensins in Oral Diseases
Current Pharmaceutical Design Multiple Roles of Biosurfactants in Biofilms
Current Pharmaceutical Design Phage Therapy: A New Horizon in the Antibacterial Treatment of Oral Pathogens
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Bacterial Proteases in Disease – Role in Intracellular Survival, Evasion of Coagulation/ Fibrinolysis Innate Defenses, Toxicoses and Viral Infections
Current Pharmaceutical Design Role of Natural Product in Modulation of Drug Transporters and New Delhi Metallo-β Lactamases
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry