Drug Targets in Kinetoplastid Parasites

The dreaded protozoal diseases caused by a number of Kinetoplastid parasites threaten mankind, as therapeutic tools for the treatment of most parasitic diseases are extremely limited. Development of commercially available vaccines is still far from reality, though research and trial programs continue. This book covers current research into drug therapeutics for the conditions caused by the parasites, which if viewed globally, pose an increasing threat to human health and welfare. The diseases caused by kinetoplastid protozoan parasites like Leishmania and Trypanosoma are a cause of suffering for many millions of people in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Leishmania species are found throughout Latin America, Africa and Asia. Trypanosoma cruzi, that causes Chagas' disease, is endemic in Latin America, while members of Trypanosoma brucei group are found in sub-Saharan Africa. Although the past two decades have witnessed technical advances in our understanding of these pathogens, they are still a major worry for health professionals. The pages of this book survey the progress that has been made, and assess how far we have to go. Written for: Researchers