Emerging Therapeutic Strategies for Visceral Leishmaniasis: A Narrative Review of AI-Guided Drug Discovery, Immunotherapy, and Nanomedicine
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/ygectx02Keywords:
Drug Delivery, Disease Treatment and Therapies, nanoparticlesAbstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala-azar, is a protozoan infection that the World Health Organization classifies as a major neglected tropical disease. Driven by distinct Leishmania parasites and transmitted via sandfly vectors, this pathogen can induce profound systemic inflammation, progressive hepatosplenomegaly, and fatal organ damage, with mortality rates approaching 100% if left untreated. Key factors driving this devastating clinical reality include VL's exceptional capacity for evading the immune system and the severe toxicity of conventional anti-leishmanial therapies. This review paper focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying VL infection and highlights both current standards of care and emerging therapeutic avenues, including AI-designed therapeutics, immunotherapies, and nanomedicines. By mapping out how these novel interventions target the host-parasite interface, I aim to inspire future therapeutic development and improve clinical outcomes for this critically neglected global disease.
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