Article
Microbiology
Adam J. Roberts, Han B. Ong, Simon Clare, Cordelia Brandt, Katherine Harcourt, Susanne U. Franssen, James A. Cotton, Nicole Mueller-Sienerth, Gavin J. Wright
Summary: This study aims to discover essential proteins for in vitro growth and host infection of Leishmania spp., with the goal of identifying subunit vaccine candidates. Through in silico analysis and genome editing, potential subunit vaccine candidates have been identified. Preclinical trials in a murine model showed significant levels of protection against splenic infection.
Review
Parasitology
Polrat Wilairatana, Wetpisit Chanmol, Pongruj Rattaprasert, Frederick Ramirez Masangkay, Giovanni De Jesus Milanez, Kwuntida Uthaisar Kotepui, Manas Kotepui
Summary: The study systematically reviewed co-infection of malaria and visceral leishmaniasis, finding heterogeneous prevalence rates in different geographical areas. Age and anemia at admission were associated with co-infection status. Further longitudinal studies are needed to determine the impact of malaria co-infection on the severity of visceral leishmaniasis.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Rohit Pal, Ghanshyam Teli, Md Jawaid Akhtar, Gurubasavaraja Swamy Purawarga Matada
Summary: Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by parasites transmitted by sandflies. It is a major public health issue, causing thousands of deaths annually. Currently, there are no specific therapeutic treatments available, and the existing drugs have drawbacks such as high cost, administration challenges, toxicity, and drug resistance. Therefore, there is a need to explore alternative treatments with lower toxicity and better effectiveness.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Andreia Ibiapina, Larissa da Silva Gualberto, Bianca Barros Dias, Barbara Catarina Bastos Freitas, Glendara Aparecida de Souza Martins, Antonio Alves Melo Filho
Summary: The Amazon biome is rich in oilseed plant species with essential properties for various applications, such as physical-chemical, nutritional, and pharmacological. Extraction of fixed oils from oleaginous Amazon fruits like tucuma, pupunha, and buriti results in products with natural antioxidants and stability. Essential oils from these fruits have antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties, making them valuable resources for potential use in the food industry.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andreu Rico, Rhaul de Oliveira, Gabriel Silva de Souza Nunes, Cristiana Rizzi, Sara Villa, Isabel Lopez-Heras, Marco Vighi, Andrea Viviana Waichman
Summary: The rapid urbanization in the Brazilian Amazon has led to untreated wastewater containing pharmaceuticals and other chemicals being discharged into freshwater ecosystems, posing potential risks to biodiversity. Urban areas are identified as hotspots for chemical contamination, with mixtures containing numerous compounds and some reaching global maxima in exposure concentrations. Chemical pollution may have long-term effects on 50-80% of aquatic species near urban areas.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Diego Simeone, Claudia Helena Tagliaro, Colin Robert Beasley
Summary: Mussels play important ecological roles in freshwater ecosystems, but their population decline due to exploitation can lead to reduced macroinvertebrate diversity and altered habitat functioning. High mussel densities appear to support abundant and diverse macroinvertebrate assemblages in Amazonian rivers.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Juliana Correa-Barbosa, Daniele Ferreira Sodre, Pedro Henrique Costa Nascimento, Maria Fani Dolabela
Summary: This study evaluates the potential of plants from the genus Zanthoxylum for treating neglected diseases. The active substances in several species of this genus show promising effects against malaria, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, and sleeping sickness.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paulo A. F. Pacheco, Maria M. M. Santos
Summary: Protozoan diseases pose a significant global health problem, particularly for socially and economically vulnerable populations. Due to limited investment in drug discovery, the available therapeutic options are limited. The emergence of drug-resistant parasite strains further emphasizes the need for safe and effective antiparasitic agents. Indole-based compounds have shown promise as drug candidates for treating important parasitic diseases such as malaria, trypanosomiasis, and leishmaniasis, with recent advancements in the design, optimization, and synthesis of synthetic indole scaffolds.
Article
Microbiology
Ana Isabel Olias-Molero, Concepcion de la Fuente, Montserrat Cuquerella, Juan J. Torrado, Jose M. Alunda
Summary: Leishmaniasis, caused by Leishmania species, affects humans and animals with no available vaccine and relies mainly on chemotherapy. The currently used drugs are old, toxic, and expensive, with limited efficacy, facing challenges of growing resistance and therapeutic failure. The drug pipeline deconstruction impacts the high failure rate of potential drugs in the fight against this parasitic disease.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Silvia Stefania Longoni, Natalia Tiberti, Zeno Bisoffi, Chiara Piubelli
Summary: This article discusses the research progress in using mAbs for infectious disease treatment, focusing on the potential strengths and weaknesses of biological treatments in controlling protozoan diseases such as leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, malaria, and toxoplasmosis. Currently, only four mAbs are being used for infectious disease treatment, while protozoan infections remain a neglected area.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Susan Winks, John G. Woodland, Goonaseelan 'Colin' Pillai, Kelly Chibale
Summary: The H3D Centre, a research unit based in South Africa, has achieved numerous successes and could potentially serve as a valuable model for drug discovery and development in Africa.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Renato T. Martins, Janaina Brito, Karina Dias-Silva, Cecilia G. Leal, Rafael P. Leitao, Vivian C. Oliveira, Jose M. B. Oliveira-Junior, Silvio F. B. Ferraz, Felipe R. de Paula, Fabio O. Roque, Neusa Hamada, Leandro Juen, Jorge L. Nessimian, Paulo S. Pompeu, Robert M. Hughes
Summary: Deforestation poses a major threat, particularly in tropical regions, impacting biodiversity and carbon storage. Studies show changes in species richness and composition in lotic ecosystems due to forest loss, with fish and macroinvertebrates responding differently. Recommendations include prohibiting logging in riparian reserves, implementing rigorous monitoring programs, and considering aquatic biota in conservation planning.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jorge Higuita-Castro, Ivan D. Velez, Diana M. Escobar, Javier Murillo, Tatiana Pineda, Victoria Ospina, Sara M. Robledo
Summary: Leishmaniasis is a tropical disease caused by parasites, with only four drugs currently available for treatment, all of which have high toxicity. A new drug combination has been discovered to have high antileishmanial activity and showed promising results in experimental treatment.
MATERIALS & DESIGN
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Hamzav Hameed, Elizabeth F. B. King, Katerina Doleckova, Barbara Bartholomew, Jackie Hollinshead, Haddijatou Mbye, Imran Ullah, Karen Walker, Maria Van Veelen, Somaia Saif Abou-Akkada, Robert J. Nash, Paul D. Horrocks, Helen P. Price
Summary: This study screened a library of purified compounds from temperate zone plants against tropical parasitic diseases, identifying potential candidates with significant inhibitory effects on specific parasites.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bandigi Narsimulu, Pranay Jakkula, Rahila Qureshi, Fouzia Nasim, Insaf Ahmed Qureshi
Summary: This study explores the functional and structural aspects of Leishmania donovani glutamyl-tRNA synthetase (LdGluRS), an essential component in protein synthesis and a potential therapeutic target against parasitic diseases. The study demonstrates the competitive inhibition of LdGluRS by salicylate, which has negligible effect on human macrophages. The role of histidine as a catalytic residue is also highlighted. The findings provide insights into the molecular inhibition and structural features of glutamyl-tRNA synthetase from kinetoplastid parasites.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2024)
