A plethora of targets, a paucity of drugs: progress towards the development of novel chemotherapies for human African trypanosomiasis

Abstract

Human African trypanosomiasis is a major health problem in large regions of Africa. Current chemotherapeutic options are limited and far from ideal. A diverse range of drug targets has been identified and validated in trypanosomes. These include several organelles (glycosomes, acidocalcisomes, kinetoplast) that are not represented in the mammalian host and biochemical pathways that differ significantly from host counterparts (carbohydrate metabolism, protein and lipid modification, response to oxidative stress, cell cycle). However, there has been little progress in developing novel drugs. Pharmaceutical companies are unwilling to invest in the development of drugs for a market that comprises some of the worlds poorest people. This review highlights some of the most attractive drug targets in trypanosomes.

• acidocalcisome
• cell cycle
• chemotherapy
• drug target
• glycolysis glycosome
• human African trypanosomiasis
• kinetoplast