Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a serious public health problem, affecting an estimated 6-7 million people worldwide, with approximately 30% of those infected developing chronic and potentially life-threatening cardiac or digestive complications. Endemic in Latin America, this regional issue is now becoming a global problem due to the migration from endemic regions to urban areas around the world. With no vaccines available, current chemotherapy is restricted to two old drugs introduced in the early 70s’. Although these drugs are effective for treatment of the acute phase of the disease, they have shown limited effectiveness and high toxicity, when treating chronic infections. To face this neglected disease, groups around the world are developing vector control strategies, more effective diagnostic tools, new drugs and searching for parasite exclusive molecular targets for the development of new and more effective therapeutics.
In this scenario, the goal of this Research Topic is to provide an overview of the recent advances in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of Chagas disease. The aim is to bring together basic researchers, clinicians, and public health experts to share knowledge and insights on the latest developments in this area, and to identify areas where further research is needed. Recent advances in genomics, proteomics, and drug discovery have provided new opportunities for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of Chagas disease, and this Research Topic seeks to showcase these innovations.
In this Research Topic, we welcome Original Research articles, Technology Reports, Reviews, Brief Research Reports, and Mini Reviews that cover, but are not limited to, the following areas:
- Epidemiology and surveillance of Chagas disease
- Vector control strategies
- Advances in diagnostics and screening tools
- Drug discovery and development
- Drug repurposing
- Novel therapeutic approaches
- New molecular targets
Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a serious public health problem, affecting an estimated 6-7 million people worldwide, with approximately 30% of those infected developing chronic and potentially life-threatening cardiac or digestive complications. Endemic in Latin America, this regional issue is now becoming a global problem due to the migration from endemic regions to urban areas around the world. With no vaccines available, current chemotherapy is restricted to two old drugs introduced in the early 70s’. Although these drugs are effective for treatment of the acute phase of the disease, they have shown limited effectiveness and high toxicity, when treating chronic infections. To face this neglected disease, groups around the world are developing vector control strategies, more effective diagnostic tools, new drugs and searching for parasite exclusive molecular targets for the development of new and more effective therapeutics.
In this scenario, the goal of this Research Topic is to provide an overview of the recent advances in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of Chagas disease. The aim is to bring together basic researchers, clinicians, and public health experts to share knowledge and insights on the latest developments in this area, and to identify areas where further research is needed. Recent advances in genomics, proteomics, and drug discovery have provided new opportunities for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of Chagas disease, and this Research Topic seeks to showcase these innovations.
In this Research Topic, we welcome Original Research articles, Technology Reports, Reviews, Brief Research Reports, and Mini Reviews that cover, but are not limited to, the following areas:
- Epidemiology and surveillance of Chagas disease
- Vector control strategies
- Advances in diagnostics and screening tools
- Drug discovery and development
- Drug repurposing
- Novel therapeutic approaches
- New molecular targets
