Modern approaches for the discovey of drugs against Chagas disease

ALAN TALEVI

Buenos Aires

Congreso; Reunión Conjunta de Sociedades de Biociencias; 2017

Sociedad Argentina de Protozoología, Sociedad Argentina de Hematología, Sociedad Argentina de Fisiología, Sociedad Argentina de Farmacología Experimental, Sociedad Argentina de Biología, Sociedad Argentina de Biofísica, Sociedad Argentina de Investigación

According to the latest figure from the PanamericanHealth Organization, there are more than 7 million peopleexposed to the disease in Argentina, and 1.5 million peopleinfected (almost 4% of the total population). Whereasduring the last years the ?neglected disease? status ofChagas disease has fortunately started reverting, around90% of the limited investment in research and developmentlinked to Chagas comes from the public sector ornon-for-profit organizations. Such scenario imposes theneed of using rational approximations in the search ofnovel diagnostic and therapeutic tools.Here, we describe different modern approaches towardsthe discovery of novel therapies against Chagas disease:in silico screening, high-throughput screening, drug designand systematic drug repurposing. Focusing on neglectedconditions, the advantages and disadvantages ofeach one of them are discussed in terms of the technologicaland translational gaps. Some recent examples ofsuccessful applications are described.