Neglected Zoonotic Diseases: Advances in the Development of Cell-Penetrating and Antimicrobial Peptides against Leishmaniosis and Chagas Disease
Sara M. Robledo,
Silvia Pérez-Silanes,
Celia Fernández-Rubio,
Ana Poveda,
Lianet Monzote,
Víctor M. González,
Paloma Alonso-Collado,
Javier Carrión
Affiliations
Sara M. Robledo
Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales PECET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia
Silvia Pérez-Silanes
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Chemistry, ISTUN Instituto de Salud Tropical, IdiSNA, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
Celia Fernández-Rubio
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, ISTUN Instituto de Salud Tropical, IdiSNA, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
Ana Poveda
DNA Replication and Genome Instability Unit, Grupo de Investigación en Biodiversidad, Zoonosis y Salud Pública (GIBCIZ), Instituto de Investigación en Zoonosis-CIZ, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170521, Ecuador
Lianet Monzote
Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine “Pedro Kourí”, Apartado Postal No. 601, Marianao 13, La Habana 10400, Cuba
Víctor M. González
Grupo de Aptámeros, Departamento de Bioquímica-Investigación, IRYCIS-Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Carretera de Colmenar Viejo Km. 9.100, 28034 Madrid, Spain
Paloma Alonso-Collado
Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Javier Carrión
Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
In 2020, the WHO established the road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030, which aims to control and eradicate 20 diseases, including leishmaniosis and Chagas disease. In addition, since 2015, the WHO has been developing a Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance. In this context, the achievement of innovative strategies as an alternative to replace conventional therapies is a first-order socio-sanitary priority, especially regarding endemic zoonoses in poor regions, such as those caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp. infections. In this scenario, it is worth highlighting a group of natural peptide molecules (AMPs and CPPs) that are promising strategies for improving therapeutic efficacy against these neglected zoonoses, as they avoid the development of toxicity and resistance of conventional treatments. This review presents the novelties of these peptide molecules and their ability to cross a whole system of cell membranes as well as stimulate host immune defenses or even serve as vectors of molecules. The efforts of the biotechnological sector will make it possible to overcome the limitations of antimicrobial peptides through encapsulation and functionalization methods to obtain approval for these treatments to be used in clinical programs for the eradication of leishmaniosis and Chagas disease.
