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Review

Overcoming drug resistance for macro parasites

    Mrigank Srivastava

    Division of Parasitology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, UP, India

    Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), New Delhi 110025, India

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    &
    Shailja Misra-Bhattacharya

    *Author for correspondence:

    E-mail Address: shailja_bhattacharya@cdri.res.in

    Division of Parasitology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, UP, India

    Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), New Delhi 110025, India

    Search for more papers by this author

    Published Online:30 Oct 2015https://doi.org/10.2217/fmb.15.73

    Abstract

    Helminth infections impose burden on human and livestock populations, and their control predominantly relies on periodic mass administration of anthelmintic drugs. However, recent emergence of drug resistance among parasites to currently available drugs raises serious problems for continuation of control strategies and achievement of elimination of parasitic diseases. This review discusses the problem of anthelmintic resistance in humans and livestock, and suggests steps that can be taken to overcome this problem. To achieve the goals of morbidity reduction or elimination of infection we need to develop novel tools, including more efficacious drugs, vaccines and/or antivectorial agents; new diagnostics for infection and assessment of drug efficacy; and markers for possible anthelmintic resistance. Harnessing the knowledge generated from sequencing of parasite genome sequences is the key to identify genes responsible for drug resistance, which can be used as a starting point for discovery of target-specific pharmacological or genetic modulation to test the functional importance of individual genes and pathways. Involvement of chemical genetic screens and Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system for drug discovery needs to be explored in greater detail. Collective effort from several quarters is needed to think of a world that is free of parasitic infections.

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