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Review
. 2019 Nov 15;20(22):5748.
doi: 10.3390/ijms20225748.

An Overview of Drug Resistance in Protozoal Diseases

Rita Capela  1 , Rui Moreira  1 , Francisca Lopes  1
Affiliations
Review

An Overview of Drug Resistance in Protozoal Diseases

Rita Capela et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Protozoan diseases continue to be a worldwide social and economic health problem. Increased drug resistance, emerging cross resistance, and lack of new drugs with novel mechanisms of action significantly reduce the effectiveness of current antiprotozoal therapies. While drug resistance associated to anti-infective agents is a reality, society seems to remain unaware of its proportions and consequences. Parasites usually develops ingenious and innovative mechanisms to achieve drug resistance, which requires more research and investment to fight it. In this review, drug resistance developed by protozoan parasites Plasmodium, Leishmania, and Trypanosoma will be discussed.

Keywords: drug resistance; leishmaniasis; malaria; protozoan; trypanosomiasis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The major classes of antimalarials and the corresponding target mutations responsible for resistance. (CYTb—Cytochrome b; K13—kelch 13 protein; DHPS—dihydropteroate synthetase; DHFR—dihydrofolate reductase; CRT—chloroquine resistance transporter; MDR1—multidrug resistance protein 1; MRP1—multidrug resistance-associated protein 1; NHE—Na+/H+ exchanger protein; ATP4—ATPase sodium efflux pump).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Intracellular amastigote form of leishmania parasite as the appropriate target for major antileishmanial drugs. Major drugs used in the treatment of leishmaniasis and their chemical structure.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The recommended drugs in the treatment of trypanosomiasis. Chemical structures and stages of the disease where they are used.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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