Targeting trypanosomes: how chemogenomics and artificial intelligence can guide drug discovery
Abstract
Trypanosomatids are protozoan parasites that cause human and animal neglected diseases. Despite global efforts, effective treatments are still much needed. Phenotypic screens have provided several chemical leads for drug discovery, but the mechanism of action for many of these chemicals is currently unknown. Recently, chemogenomic screens assessing the susceptibility or resistance of parasites carrying genome-wide modifications started to define the mechanism of action of drugs at large scale. In this review, we discuss how genomics is being used for drug discovery in trypanosomatids, how integration of chemical and genomics data from these and other organisms has guided prioritisations of candidate therapeutic targets and additional chemical starting points, and how these data can fuel the expansion of drug discovery pipelines into the era of artificial intelligence.
Lionel Urán Landaburu
Former Lab Member (2016 – 2023)
PhD Fellow, teacher and science divulgation enthusiast.
Mercedes Didier Garnham
PhD Student
Fernán Agüero
Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor
Using and generating data to guide discovery of new drugs and diagnostics.