AUTHOR=Varikuti Sanjay , Jha Bijay Kumar , Volpedo Greta , Ryan Nathan M. , Halsey Gregory , Hamza Omar M. , McGwire Bradford S. , Satoskar Abhay R. 

TITLE=Host-Directed Drug Therapies for Neglected Tropical Diseases Caused by Protozoan Parasites

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2018.02655

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2018.02655

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>The neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) caused by protozoan parasites are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Current treatments using anti-parasitic drugs are toxic and prolonged with poor patient compliance. In addition, emergence of drug-resistant parasites is increasing worldwide. Hence, there is a need for safer and better therapeutics for these infections. Host-directed therapy using drugs that target host pathways required for pathogen survival or its clearance is a promising approach for treating infections. This review will give a summary of the current status and advances of host-targeted therapies for treating NTDs caused by protozoa.</p>