Neglected tropical diseases, or NTDs, are a category of infectious diseases that impact approximately 1.7 billion people around the world, especially in tropical areas with no access to clean water or sanitation. An example of a potentially fatal NTD is Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis. Chagas disease results from the parasite <i>Trypanosoma cruzi,</i> which resides in insect vectors (most commonly infected triatomine bugs or “kissing bugs”). Previous treatments, benznidazole or nifurtimox, were discontinued because of adverse side effects, such as digestive system irritation, skin disorders, and neurological symptoms. As a result, new drugs are currently being researched and developed. Our investigation was launched in order to create a disquaramide drug library, in the interest of creating a safer treatment for Chagas disease with less side effects. So far, we have created 15 drugs in search of that goal in moderate to high yields. Once the library is complete, we will send them for testing against the <i>T. cruzi</i> parasite with the help of the DNDi.

Synthesis of a low-cost disquaramide drug library for Chagas disease

ACS Spring 2022

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