Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Garima Joshi, Sheikh Shahnawaz Quadir, Khushwant S. Yadav
Summary: Neglected tropical diseases, a set of 20 deadliest endemic diseases, affect nearly 1 billion people worldwide, mostly in developing countries, leading to poverty. These diseases present unique challenges for effective prevention and treatment methods. The use of nanocarriers in research and development is seen as a promising approach to fight infections by incorporating established drugs into them.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
J. Brindha, M. M. Balamurali, Kaushik Chanda
Summary: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) encompass twenty infectious diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Researchers are focusing on developing alternative and novel therapeutics targeting specific biochemical pathways of the causative parasites for diseases like Chagas disease and leishmaniasis. The use of nano-based formulations for therapeutics is also being discussed.
FRONTIERS IN CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Debora B. Scariot, Austeja Staneviciute, Jennifer Zhu, Xiaomo Li, Evan A. Scott, David M. Engman
Summary: Nanotechnology has been playing an important role in improving drug efficacy and reducing toxicity and side effects. However, the clinical effectiveness of nanomedicines in the treatment of leishmaniasis and Chagas disease is still limited to preliminary animal studies.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
K. U. E. Ogbureke
Summary: Noma, a devastating disease affecting children in poor countries, lacks sufficient knowledge for effective prevention and eradication. This article calls for the WHO to recognize noma as a neglected tropical disease and urges international research funding agencies to support research on epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and molecular mechanisms to improve prevention and treatment approaches.
JOURNAL OF DENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vinicius Rocha, Helenita Quadros, Cassio Meira, Lais Silva, Dahara Carvalho, Katharine Hodel, Diogo Moreira, Milena Soares
Summary: Neglected tropical diseases, such as leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, and malaria, pose significant challenges to global public health. Current treatments are ineffective and outdated due to drug resistance, and there is a lack of validated vaccines. Betulinic acid and its derivatives have shown promising antiparasitic activity against these diseases, but further research and improvement are needed to develop effective treatments.
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Erick Tavares Marcelino Alves, Filipe Gomes Pernichelle, Lucas Adriano Nascimento, Glaucio Monteiro Ferreira, Elizabeth Igne Ferreira
Summary: Neglected diseases, such as Malaria, Human African Trypanosomiasis, and Chagas disease, pose significant challenges for impoverished populations, with limited and inadequate treatment options available. There is a pressing need for the discovery and design of new drugs to address these neglected diseases.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Leonardo L. G. Ferreira, Josue de Moraes, Adriano D. Andricopulo
Summary: Neglected tropical diseases, such as leishmaniasis and schistosomiasis, continue to be a public health challenge in developing countries. However, advancements in drug discovery using modern strategies have shown promise in addressing these diseases by combining medicinal chemistry and parasite biology.
DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Dhesmon Lima, Ana Carolina Mendes Hacke, Benjamin Ulmer, Sabine Kuss
Summary: Virus infections and parasitic diseases commonly found in tropical countries can have detrimental effects on societies in those regions, but are often overlooked in scientific research. Developing early diagnostic methods is crucial for mitigating the negative impacts of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
CURRENT OPINION IN ELECTROCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Fatima Ferragut, Gonzalo R. Acevedo, Karina A. Gomez
Summary: The immune response of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells against T. cruzi is crucial for parasite control and disease pathogenesis. Despite the identification of some T cell epitopes, further research is needed to delve deeper into the specific targets of T cell memory response.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Joao M. Anghinoni, Marina C. Dilelio, Cristiane Y. K. Shiguemoto, Ricardo F. Schumacher, Adriano C. M. Baroni, Eder Joao Lenardao
Summary: The treatment of diseases such as malaria, leishmaniasis, tuberculosis and Chagas disease requires the use of chemical substances, but traditional synthesis methods are inefficient and polluting. This review discusses the development of green synthesis protocols in the past decade, which utilize alternative and efficient energy sources such as microwaves and ultrasound, as well as green solvents and solvent-free protocols to improve the synthesis efficiency of pharmaceutical active ingredients and reduce the generation of pollutants.
CURRENT TOPICS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Katsura Hata
Summary: Neglected tropical diseases are common in developing countries and pharmaceutical companies like Eisai are making efforts to develop drugs to combat these diseases. Eisai has distributed drugs for lymphatic filariasis to endemic countries and has a portfolio of assets for various infectious diseases. They have also developed E1224 for Chagas disease and are conducting clinical trials for other diseases in collaboration with organizations like DNDi and GHIT Fund.
YAKUGAKU ZASSHI-JOURNAL OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mudasir Nabi Peerzada, Aysha Gaur, Amir Azam
Summary: This review discusses drug development strategies for human African and American trypanosomiasis, highlighting the most promising compounds identified through various approaches and emphasizing the potential of molecular hybridization in preventing the development of resistance.
CURRENT MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Pedro E. Fleitas, Noelia Floridia-Yapur, Elvia E. Nieves, Adriana Echazu, Paola A. Vargas, Nicolas R. Caro, Ramiro Aveldano, Walter Lopez, Mariana Fernandez, Favio Crudo, Ruben O. Cimino, Alejandro J. Krolewiecki
Summary: This study evaluates the association between S. stercoralis and T. cruzi infections in villages with diverse prevalence levels for these parasites. The findings provide insights into the relationship between these neglected tropical diseases in South America and highlight the importance of integrated control measures and potential biologic interactions.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Andreina Henriquez-Figuereo, Cristina Moran-Serradilla, Eduardo Angulo-Elizari, Carmen Sanmartin, Daniel Plano
Summary: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of infectious diseases caused by protozoa, with a high incidence and prevalence in developing countries. Economic factors hinder the management of these diseases, and there is a lack of effective drugs and high costs. This study aims to identify novel chalcogen-derived molecules against Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, and human African trypanosomiasis (HAT).
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Giulia Modi, Beatrice Borchi, Susanna Giache, Irene Campolmi, Michele Trotta, Mariarosaria Di Tommaso, Noemi Strambi, Alessandro Bartoloni, Lorenzo Zammarchi
Summary: A targeted testing strategy using a five-question questionnaire was effective in identifying pregnant women at risk for emerging infectious diseases, particularly high in pregnant women from Africa. The strategy could be used by health care professionals to identify and provide targeted testing and treatment for at-risk pregnant women.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Niccolo Riccardi, Silvia Storato, Arianna Massella, Andrea Ragusa, Marco Prato, Pierantonio Orza, Ilenia Campedelli, Fabio Fracchetti, Chiara Piubelli, Andrea Angheben
Summary: Drug-resistant nontyphoidal Salmonella spp. strains are emerging globally, requiring rapid identification and sequencing for outbreak control. Proactive research and notification are crucial to evaluate transmission routes from livestock to humans and risk management strategies of MDR Salmonella strains.
MICROBIAL DRUG RESISTANCE
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
G. Ciusa, F. Guida Marascia, R. Virruso, A. Angheben, G. Guaraldi, A. Cascio
Summary: This case report describes the clinical reactivation of chronic P. malariae infection in a 48-year old Italian man following CoVID-19 vaccination with BNT162b2. The patient presented with fever and splenomegaly, which occurred one month after vaccination. P. malariae was diagnosed using rapid test and Polymerase-Chain Reaction. The transient reduction of immune reactivity post-vaccine is mentioned in literature, but the mechanism remains unknown.
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Lauren D'Mello-Guyett, Oliver Cumming, Elliot Rogers, Rob D'hondt, Estifanos Mengitsu, Maria Mashako, Rafael Van den Bergh, Placide Okitayemba Welo, Peter Maes, Francesco Checchi
Summary: This review examines the responses to cholera epidemics in three countries and provides recommendations for improving cholera prevention and control efforts. It emphasizes the need for improved epidemic preparedness, strengthened partnerships, and standardized reporting templates.
CONFLICT AND HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Sara Caldrer, Tamara Ursini, Beatrice Santucci, Leonardo Motta, Andrea Angheben
Summary: This narrative review discusses the association between different helminthic infections and anaemia, emphasizing the importance of recognizing this relationship even in non-endemic countries. The review provides comprehensive information on the epidemiology, lifecycle, clinical spectrum, and diagnostic approach of anaemia, with a particular focus on helminthic infections.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Hassaan Zahid, Khawar Aslam, Elin Hoffmann Dahl, Waqas Abbassi, Suleiman Adan, Rafael van den Bergh, Marta A. Balinska, Nasir Hassan Luck
Summary: Globally, there are 58 million people living with HCV infection, with 1.5 million new infections occurring annually. The introduction of DAAs has revolutionized HCV treatment, but the emergence of drug resistance poses a threat to achieving HCV elimination goals. In this study, we discuss 18 patients in a resource-limited setting who failed to respond to both standard and advanced treatment regimens. We emphasize the need for increased attention and research on patients failing treatment and the spread of drug-resistant HCV strains within communities.
OXFORD MEDICAL CASE REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Paola Rodari, Francesca Tamarozzi, Stefano Tais, Monica Degani, Francesca Perandin, Dora Buonfrate, Emanuele Nicastri, Luciana Lepore, Maria Letizia Giancola, Stefania Carrara, Alessandro Tavelli, Alessandro Cozzi-Lepri, Antonella D'Arminio Monforte, Ronaldo Silva, Andrea Angheben
Summary: This study evaluated the prevalence of Chagas disease and strongyloidiasis infections among HIV-infected migrants from Latin America living in Italy and found that these infections are present in this population. The accuracy of seroassays for Chagas disease and strongyloidiasis in HIV-positive patients is unclear.
TRAVEL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Spinello Antinori, Laura Galimberti, Romualdo Grande, Davide Ricaboni, Stefania Sala, Vania Giacomet, Valeria Colombo, Mario Corbellino, Andrea Angheben, Andrea Giacomelli, Anna Lisa Ridolfo
Summary: Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, affects 6-8 million people worldwide, with cardiac or digestive complications being common. A Bolivian family cluster with seven affected individuals was identified in Milan, Italy, highlighting the challenges of congenital transmission in non-endemic areas. The study emphasizes the need for screening and control of congenital Chagas disease among family members to address the hidden prevalence in non-endemic regions.
TRAVEL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Biology
Bronner P. Goncalves, Matthew Hall, Waasila Jassat, Valeria Balan, Srinivas Murthy, Christiana Kartsonaki, Malcolm G. Semple, Amanda Rojek, Joaquin Baruch, Luis Felipe Reyes, Abhishek Dasgupta, Jake Dunning, Barbara Wanjiru Citarella, Mark Pritchard, Alejandro Martin-Quiros, Uluhan Sili, J. Kenneth Baillie, Diptesh Aryal, Yaseen Arabi, Aasiyah Rashan, Andrea Angheben, Janice Caoili, Francois Martin Carrier, Ewen M. Harrison, Joan Gomez-Junyent, Claudia Figueiredo-Mello, James Joshua Douglas, Mohd Basri Mat Nor, Yock Ping Chow, Xin Ci Wong, Silvia Bertagnolio, Soe Soe Thwin, Anca Streinu-Cercel, Leonardo Salazar, Asgar Rishu, Rajavardhan Rangappa, David S. Y. Ong, Madiha Hashmi, Gail Carson, Janet Diaz, Rob Fowler, Moritz U. G. Kraemer, Evert-Jan Wils, Peter Horby, Laura Merson, Piero L. Olliaro
Summary: This study proposes an innovative method to infer the SARS-CoV-2 variants responsible for clinical cases using publicly available population-level data. The analysis of over 100,000 patients from 28 countries suggests that patients hospitalized with Omicron variant infection less often present with commonly reported symptoms compared to patients infected with pre-Omicron variants. Furthermore, patients admitted to hospital after Omicron variant emergence had lower mortality compared to patients admitted during the period when Omicron variant was responsible for only a minority of infections.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Florian Kurth, Pinkus Tober-Lau, Tilman Lingscheid, Lara Bardtke, Johanna Kim, Andrea Angheben, Federico G. Gobbi, Lena Mbavu, Miriam S. Stegemann, Katrin M. Heim, Frieder Pfaefflin, Nikolai Menner, Mariana Schuermann, Agata Mikolajewska, Martin Witzenrath, Leif E. Sander, Beate Mayer, Thomas Zoller
Summary: In this prospective observational study, it was found that about 37.4% of patients with uncomplicated malaria treated with oral ACT showed post-treatment haemolysis (PTH) on day 14. Patients with PTH had higher initial parasitaemia and a 10-fold decrease in infected red blood cells (oiRBCs) between day 3 and day 14. The occurrence of PTH was more common in African patients, who also showed significantly increased erythropoiesis on day 14.
JOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Karolina Akinosoglou, Antigone Kotsaki, Ioanna-Maria Gounaridi, Eirini Christaki, Simeon Metallidis, Georgios Adamis, Archontoula Fragkou, Massimo Fantoni, Aggeliki Rapti, Ioannis Kalomenidis, Georgios Chrysos, Gloria Boni, Ilias Kainis, Zoi Alexiou, Francesco Castelli, Francesco Saverio Serino, Petros Bakakos, Emanuele Nicastri, Vassiliki Tzavara, Asimina Safarika, Sofia Ioannou, Lorenzo Dagna, Katerina Dimakou, Glykeria Tzatzagou, Maria Chini, Matteo Bassetti, Vasileios Kotsis, Andrea Angheben, George Tsoukalas, Carlo Selmi, Olga-Maria Spiropoulou, Michael Samarkos, Michael Doumas, Georgia Damoraki, Aikaterini Masgala, Ilias Papanikolaou, Aikaterini Argyraki, Marcantonio Negri, Konstantinos Leventogiannis, Styliani Sympardi, Nikolaos K. Gatselis, Vasileios Petrakis, Mihai G. Netea, Periklis Panagopoulos, Vissaria Sakka, George N. Dalekos, Evangelos J. Giamarellos-Bourboulis
Summary: The SAVE-MORE trial found that anakinra treatment in COVID-19 pneumonia patients with suPAR levels of 6 ng/mL or more was associated with worse outcomes compared to placebo at day 28. Subgroup analyses showed that anakinra treatment had lower odds of worse outcomes in all studied subgroups. Long-term outcomes at days 60 and 90 also favored anakinra treatment.
Review
Mycology
Verena Zerbato, Stefano Di Bella, Riccardo Pol, Francesco D'Aleo, Andrea Angheben, Claudio Farina, Marco Conte, Francesco Luzzaro, Gianluigi Lombardi, AMCLI Mycology Comm, Roberto Luzzati, Luigi Principe
Summary: This study conducted a systematic review on endemic systemic mycoses reported in Italy from 1914 to now, finding 105 cases of histoplasmosis, 15 cases of paracoccidioidomycosis, 10 cases of coccidioidomycosis, 10 cases of blastomycosis, and 3 cases of talaromycosis. Most cases were reported in returning travelers and immigrants, with 32 patients having no history of traveling to an endemic area. Among 46 HIV/AIDS patients, immunosuppression was the major risk factor for contracting these infections and experiencing severe outcomes. The study provides an overview on the microbiological characteristics and clinical management principles of systemic endemic mycoses, focusing on cases reported in Italy.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Tommaso Manciulli, Davide Marangoni, Joaquin Salas-Coronas, Cristina Bocanegra, Joachim Richter, Federico Gobbi, Leonardo Motta, Andrea Minervini, Alessandro Bartoloni, Lorenzo Zammarchi
Summary: Currently, there are no standardized guidelines for the diagnosis or management of the complications of urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS). This systematic review aims to investigate the state of the art in reference to diagnostic approaches and clinical management of this condition.
Article
Microbiology
Niccolo Riccardi, Roberta Maria Antonello, Andrea Giacomelli, Laura Saderi, Diana Canetti, Carlo Pallotto, Fulvia Mazzaferri, Anna Maria Degli Antoni, Chiara Cardellino, Ilaria Motta, Andrea Calcagno, Marco Falcone, Michele Trezzi, Agnese Comelli, Renato Pascale, Marco Merli, Francesca Binda, Andrea Angheben, Giovanni Sotgiu, Federico Gobbi, Silvia Nozza
Summary: Diagnosis and management of infectious diseases in the emergency department pose challenges, and an online survey of Italian departments of infectious diseases showed shortcomings in the current organization, such as a lack of formal antimicrobial stewardship programs and defined protocols for microbiological tests in the ED.
NEW MICROBIOLOGICA
(2022)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Iacopo Vellere, Alessandro Di Felice, Annarita Botta, Andrea Angheben, Alessandro Bartoloni, Lorenzo Zammarchi
Summary: Pyemotes ventricosus dermatitis is a skin disease caused by free-living mites, which is often underreported and difficult to diagnose. The reduction in pesticide use in agriculture may lead to an increased exposure to Pyemotes spp. in the future.
INFECTIOUS DISEASE REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Parasitology
Fernanda de Souza Nogueira Sardinha Mendes, Jose Antonio Perez-Molina, Andrea Angheben, Sheba K. Meymandi, Sergio Sosa-Estani, Israel Molina
Summary: This manuscript provides a comparative review of approaches to patients with Chagas disease in the Americas and Europe, highlighting the influence of the socioeconomic context of the host societies.
MEMORIAS DO INSTITUTO OSWALDO CRUZ
(2022)