Innovative and Translational Antibiosis Approaches to Tackling Protozoan Parasites: Synergy, Drug Repurposing, Natural Products, Molecular Targets, and Therapeutic Design
A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 May 2026 | Viewed by 97
Special Issue Editor
Interests: parasitic diseases; vaccines; immunology of infectious diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Protozoan neglected diseases, such as leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, African trypanosomiasis, amebiasis, and giardiasis, remain a major global health challenge, particularly in regions with limited access to healthcare. A critical limitation in current therapies is the increasing resistance of protozoan parasites to available drugs, together with frequent therapeutic failures, reflecting the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, this Special Issue will highlight strategies that directly address antiparasitic drug resistance, advancing the wider efforts against antimicrobial resistance but in the specific context of protozoan pathogens. This Special Issue will focus on novel therapeutic approaches to tackling protozoan parasites, emphasizing synergistic drug combinations, the repurposing of clinically approved compounds, natural products with antiparasitic activity, and the rational design of new chemical entities. We also welcome studies on molecular targets and mechanisms of action, as well as contributions exploring structure–activity relationships and omics-driven discoveries. We especially welcome manuscripts addressing beneficial microorganisms and probiotic-based interventions, which represent a promising frontier in antiparasitic therapy through the modulation of host–parasite interactions and the enhancement of immune responses. In addition, both in vitro and in vivo models will be considered, including studies that connect molecular insights with translational applications. By integrating drug repurposing, natural compound discovery, synergistic strategies, microbial therapies, and therapeutic design, this Special Issue will provide a comprehensive platform for advancing antibiosis research and developing safer, more effective treatments against protozoan neglected diseases.
Dr. Leonardo Acuña
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- drug repurposing for neglected tropical diseases
- natural products with antiparasitic activity
- synergistic drug combinations
- molecular targets and mechanisms of action
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