For human health, leishmaniasis is among the most important protozoan diseases, superseded only by malaria. Globally, 10 to 12 million people are infected with 1.5 million new cases every year. The development of cheaper new drugs is urgently needed for this neglected disease that is developing resistance to current treatments. Chemotherapy remains the only treatment option for the bulk of patients. However, this is largely unaffordable for most. In the past three years numerous advances in drug discovery have been made for treating this disease by exploiting diverging metabolic pathways between the Leishmania enzymes and their hosts, using nanotechnology to target the immune cell phagolysosomes where Leishmania resides. Drug Discovery for Leishmaniasis aims to provide a perspective of the current treatments and their challenges, blended with the emerging strategies and methodologies that will drive new target appraisals and drug developments, as well as addressing the molecular basis of resistance in Leishmania. Recent studies have shown that leishmaniasis affects some of the poorest people in the world, with 95% of fatal cases occurring in only 6 countries. With the WHO goal of eliminating this public health problem in the South-east Asia Region by 2020, this book will be important for anyone who is interested in neglected tropical diseases.

One of the main problems concerning therapeutic tools for the treatment of parasitic diseases, including leishmaniasis, is that some field parasites are naturally resistant to the classical drugs; additionally, current therapies may select parasites prone to be resistant to the applied drugs. These features are (at least partially) responsible for the disappointing persistence of the disease and resultant deaths worldwide. This book provides a comprehensive view of the pathology of the disease itself, and of parasitic drug resistance, its molecular basis, consequences and possible treatments. Scientists both from academic fields and from the industry involved in biomedical research and drug design, will find in this book a valuable and fundamental guide that conveys the knowledge needed to understand and to improve the success in combating this disease worldwide.

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease that is known to be transmitted by 90 different species of sandflies which carry 20 Leishmania species that cause human infection particularly in endemic countries. Pathogenesis, Treatment, and Prevention of Leishmaniasis aims to provide information on this vector-borne disease and explore strategies for diagnosis and treatment. The book begins with an overview of leishmaniasis which includes historical and future perspectives of the disease. It also discusses the clinical manifestation of the disease, mechanisms of infection, therapeutic strategies, diagnostics, prevention, and cure of Leishmania parasite. The book goes on to explain new insights and challenges in the development of promising drug targets, biomarkers identification and advance vaccination strategies against leishmaniasis. Chapter contributions brings together diverse areas of expertise making Pathogenesis, Treatment, and Prevention of Leishmaniasis aims to bring together elements of leishmaniasis into one place and be a valuable resource for researchers, health care professionals, and graduate students, working in the field of leishmaniasis. Provides an overview Leishmania and leishmanisis which include its history, transmission, clinical picture, and treatment Discusses novel approaches to study parasite infection and treatment Explores recent advances in the development of diagnostic kits, drug development and various vaccination strategies

Over the years, India has attained a prominent global position in the manufacture of Generic Drugs. This success can be attributed to its synthetic organic chemistry and chemical engineering strengths, nurtured by the timely policies of the Government of India. However, breakthrough successes in New Drug Discovery have remained elusive, despite the brilliant and sustained efforts of many Indian researchers and Pharma establishments. The Indian National Science Academy thought it appropriate to document India’s New Drug Discovery Research (NDDR) journey to date. Gathering contributions from prominent researchers in the Indian Pharma Industry and Academia, this book highlights their efforts, achievements, and the status quo of Indian NDDR.

Of all the parasitic diseases, leishmaniasis is one of the most diverse, with a variety of manifestations, from relatively minor cutaneous lesions to deadly visceral infections. It is also widespread, causing human disease in the Americas, Asia, Europe and Africa. The environments in which this disease occurs range from desert to tropical jungle to urban habitats. Not surprisingly, the literature on this disease is written in a variety of languages including Portuguese, Arabic, English and French among others. This book provides a synopsis in English of much of the recent research on leishmaniasis, with a focus on the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of the disease as described by researchers around the world, but with a focus on the research from Brazil and the Middle East.

This book provides an overview on the major neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa, such as Leishmaniasis, Buruli Ulcer and Schistosomiasis. In well-structured chapters epidemiology and biology of these parasitic diseases will be discussed in detail. Further, diagnostics and therapeutic approaches as well as prevention strategies will be reviewed. The book will be of interest to basic researchers and clinicians engaged in infectious disease, tropical medicine, and parasitology, and a must-have for scientists specialized in the characteristics of the Sub-Saharan region.

Leishmania parasites plague the mammalian host causing high morbidity and mortality. The parasites persist in the hostile milieu, crippling its defensive arsenal. In the face of mounting resistance to an antiquated drug arsenal, new approaches are urgently desired to keep the infection at bay. Furthermore, to strengthen the leishmaniasis elimination drive, particular emphasis has to be laid on identification of new targets and vaccination strategies. This book gives a brief glimpse of the epidemiology of leishmaniasis, immune evasion, vaccination, and therapeutic modalities that may work by untangling the immunological cross-wires of pathogenic cross-talk. The Conventional treatment and its drawbacks, the prospects of phytotherapy and nanomedicines, are also discussed. The identification of drug targets with the aim of designing inhibitors is also exemplified.