Neglected scrub typhus: An updated review with a focus on omics technologies

Abstract

Scrub typhus is a neglected disease and one of the most serious health problems in the Asia-Pacific region. The disease is caused by an obligate intracellular bacteria Orientia tsutsugamushi, which is transmitted by chigger bites or larval mite bites. Scrub typhus is a threat to billions of people worldwide causing different health complications and acute encephalitis in infants and growing children. The disease causes multiple organ failure and mortality rates may reach up to 70% due to a lack of appropriate healthcare. Currently available genome and proteome databases, and bioinformatics methods are valuable tools to develop novel therapeutics to curb the pathogen. This review discusses the state-of-the-art of information about Orientia tsutsugamushi-mediated scrub typhus and delineates the role of omics technologies to develop drugs against the pathogen. The role of proteome-wide in silico approaches for the identification of therapeutic targets is also highlighted.

Keywords

• orientia tsutsugamushi; scrub typhus; therapeutic targets; omics technologies; drug discovery