Drug Discovery in Infectious Diseases

The rational approach to controlling human and animal diseases caused by nematodes. Filariae are a family of parasitic worms which infect animals and humans, causing severe diseases such as elephantiasis (lymphatic filariasis) and river blindness (onchocerciasis) in humans, as well as heartworm disease (dirofilariasis) in dogs and cats. While the human diseases are rarely fatal, the blindness and disfiguration resulting from these infections constitute a severe burden for the affected individuals and to the healthcare systems in many tropical countries. In 2017, the World Health Organization classified several filariases as neglected tropical diseases and announced a new program seeking to eradicate these infections, which has in turn sparked a new push to develop antifilarial drugs. Considering the current and future import of this topic, “Human and Animal Filariases” takes a comprehensive look at infections by filarial parasites in humans and in animals. It begins by reviewing the current state of diagnosis and chemotherapy, before addressing the increasing resistance to available antifilarial drugs. This is followed by strategies and approaches for the discovery of novel drugs and finally by looking at alternative and supplementary approaches to combat the parasites, including vector control and vaccination. Human and Animal Filariases readers will find: • A comprehensive approach that integrates current chemotherapy with recent advances in antifilarial drug discovery • Practical information on assay development, target validation, and required drug product profiles • Insights from global experts from leading academic institutions as well as from pharma and healthcare companies “Human and Animal Filariases” is a unique reference for parasitologists, veterinarians, as well as professionals in the pharmaceutical industry and in public health agencies.

Written and edited by experts in the field, this book brings together the current state of the art in phenotypic and rational, target-based approaches to drug discovery against pathogenic protozoa. The chapters focus particularly on virtual compounds and high throughput screening, natural products, computer-assisted drug design, structure-based drug design, mechanism of action identification, and pathway modelling. Furthermore, state-of the art "omics" technologies are described and currently studied enzymatic drug targets are discussed. Mathematical, systems biology-based approaches are introduced as new methodologies for dissecting complex aspects of pathogen survival mechanisms and for target identification. In addition, recently developed anti-parasitic agents targeting particular pathways, which serve as lead compounds for further drug development, are presented.

This is the first resource to provide researchers in academia and industry with an urgently needed update on drug intervention against trypanosomatides. As such, it covers every aspect of the topic from basic research findings, via current treatments to translational approaches in drug development and includes both human and livestock diseases. The outstanding editor and contributor team reads like a Who’s Who of the field, thus guaranteeing the outstanding quality of this ready reference.

This handbook is the first dealing with the discovery of drugs directed against apicomplexan parasites. Amongst others, this group of endoparasites includes the causative agents of Malaria, Toxoplasmosis, and Babesiosis, the latter occurring mainly in animals. Written by renowned scientific experts from academia and industry, the book focuses on current drug development approaches for all apicomplexan diseases making it appealing to a large audience, ranging from research labs in academia to the human and veterinarian pharmaceutical industry.

In light of the rapidity increasing incidence rate of bacterial and fungal infections with multi-resistant pathogens, the metabolic changes associated with host-pathogen interactions offer one of the most promising starting points for developing novel antibiotics. Part one of this comprehensive guide describes the metabolic adaptation of pathogenic microbes in humans, while part two points to routes for the development of novel antibiotics. This is volume six of the book series on drug discovery in infectious diseases by Paul Selzer.

This third volume in the successful 'Drug Discovery in Infectious Diseases' series is the first to deal with drug discovery in helminthic infections in human and animals. The result is a broad overview of different drug target evaluation methods, including specific examples of successful drug development against helminthes, and with a whole section devoted to vaccine development. With its well-balanced mix of high-profile contributors from academia and industry, this handbook and reference will appeal to a wide audience, including parasitologists, pharmaceutical industry, epidemiologists, and veterinary scientists.

This is the first book to collect and summarize in one publication the efforts to use kinases or phosphatases for drug development against parasite infections. The editors and contributors comprise the Who is Who in the field, and they are comprehensive in covering every aspect of the topic, from basic research findings to translational approaches in drug development The result will be welcomed by everyone in academia and industry participating in the global effort to finally combat the major diseases caused by eukaryotic parasites. This is volume one of a two-volume treatise, the second being exclusively dedicated to efforts to combat malaria using the same approach.

This first book specifically dedicated to ectoparasite drug discovery is unique in providing insights from the veterinary as well as the medical perspective, covering research from both industry and academia while paving the way for new synergies between the two research communities. Edited by a team combining 80 years of experience in academic research and industrial antiparasitic drug discovery, this volume of “Drug Discovery in Infectious Diseases” summarizes current knowledge in this rapidly expanding field. Comprehensive yet concise, this ready reference blends solid background information on ectoparasite biology with the very latest methods in ectoparasite drug discovery. Three major parts cover current ectoparasite control strategies and the threat of drug resistance, screening and drug evaluation, and the new isoxazoline class of ectoparasiticides. The future potential of mechanism-based approaches for repellents and parasiticides is thoroughly discussed, as are strategies for vaccines against ectoparasites, making the book ideal for parasitologists in academia as well as researchers working in the pharmaceutical industry.