Phosphodiesterases as Drug Targets


Book Description

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are promising targets for pharmacological intervention. Multiple PDE genes, isoform diversity, selective expression and compartmentation of the isoforms, and an array of conformations of PDE proteins are properties that challenge development of drugs that selectively target this class of enzymes. Novel characteristics of PDEs are viewed as unique opportunities to increase specificity and selectivity when designing novel compounds for certain therapeutic indications. This chapter provides a summary of the major concepts related to the design and use of PDE inhibitors.




Medicinal Chemistry of Neglected and Tropical Diseases


Book Description

Medicinal Chemistry of Neglected and Tropical Diseases: Advances in the Design and Synthesis of Antimicrobial Agents consolidates and describes modern drug discovery and development approaches currently employed to identify effective chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) from a medicinal chemistry perspective. Chapters are designed to cater to the needs of medicinal chemists who work with chemotherapeutic developments for NTDs, as well as serve as a guide to budding medicinal chemists who wish to work in this area. It will introduce rational drug design approaches adopted in designing chemotherapeutics and validated targets available for the purpose.




American Trypanosomiasis


Book Description

Chagas disease causes severe socioeconomic impact and a high medical cost in Latin America. WHO and the World Bank consider Chagas disease as the fourth most transmittable disease to have a major impact on public health in Latin America: 120 million persons are potentially exposed, 16 to 18 million of whom are presently infected, causing 45,000 to 50,000 deaths per year. It has been calculated that approximately 2.4 million potential working years are lost because of incapacity and mortality due to the disease, for an annual cost estimated at 20 billion Euros. American Trypanosomiasis provides a comprehensive overview of Chagas disease and discusses the latest discoveries concerning the three elements that compose the transmission chain of the disease: - The host: human and mammalian reservoirs - The insect vectors: domestic and sylvatic vectors - The causative parasite: Trypanosoma cruzi - Informs and updates on all the latest developments in the field - Contributions from leading authorities and industry experts







Burger's Medicinal Chemistry, Drug Discovery and Development, 8 Volume Set


Book Description

Burger’s Medicinal Chemistry, Drug Discovery and Development Explore the freshly updated flagship reference for medicinal chemists and pharmaceutical professionals The newly revised eighth edition of the eight-volume Burger’s Medicinal Chemistry, Drug Discovery and Development is the latest installment in this celebrated series covering the entirety of the drug development and discovery process. With the addition of expert editors in each subject area, this eight-volume set adds 35 chapters to the extensive existing chapters. New additions include analyses of opioid addiction treatments, antibody and gene therapy for cancer, blood-brain barrier, HIV treatments, and industrial-academic collaboration structures. Along with the incorporation of practical material on drug hunting, the set features sections on drug discovery, drug development, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, immunology, cancer, anti-Infectives, and CNS disorders. The text continues the legacy of previous volumes in the series by providing recognized, renowned, authoritative, and comprehensive information in the area of drug discovery and development while adding cutting-edge new material on issues like the use of artificial intelligence in medicinal chemistry. Included: Volume 1: Methods in Drug Discovery, edited by Kent D. Stewart Volume 2: Discovering Lead Molecules, edited by Kent D. Stewart Volume 3: Drug Development, edited by Ramnarayan S. Randad and Michael Myers Volume 4: Cardiovascular, Endocrine, and Metabolic Diseases, edited by Scott D. Edmondson Volume 5: Pulmonary, Bone, Immunology, Vitamins, and Autocoid Therapeutic Agents, edited by Bryan H. Norman Volume 6: Cancer, edited by Barry Gold and Donna M. Huryn Volume 7: Anti-Infectives, edited by Roland E. Dolle Volume 8: CNS Disorders, edited by Richard A. Glennon Perfect for research departments in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, Burger’s Medicinal Chemistry, Drug Discovery and Development can be used by graduate students seeking a one-stop reference for drug development and discovery and deserves its place in the libraries of biomedical research institutes, medical, pharmaceutical, and veterinary schools.




Drug Discovery for Leishmaniasis


Book Description

For human health, leishmaniasis is among the most important protozoan diseases, superseded only by malaria. Globally, 10 to 12 million people are infected with 1.5 million new cases every year. The development of cheaper new drugs is urgently needed for this neglected disease that is developing resistance to current treatments. Chemotherapy remains the only treatment option for the bulk of patients. However, this is largely unaffordable for most. In the past three years numerous advances in drug discovery have been made for treating this disease by exploiting diverging metabolic pathways between the Leishmania enzymes and their hosts, using nanotechnology to target the immune cell phagolysosomes where Leishmania resides. Drug Discovery for Leishmaniasis aims to provide a perspective of the current treatments and their challenges, blended with the emerging strategies and methodologies that will drive new target appraisals and drug developments, as well as addressing the molecular basis of resistance in Leishmania. Recent studies have shown that leishmaniasis affects some of the poorest people in the world, with 95% of fatal cases occurring in only 6 countries. With the WHO goal of eliminating this public health problem in the South-east Asia Region by 2020, this book will be important for anyone who is interested in neglected tropical diseases.




Phosphodiesterases and Their Inhibitors


Book Description

Written by the pioneers of Viagra, the first blockbuster PDE inhibitor drug. Beginning with a review of the first wave of phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors, this book focuses on new and emerging PDE targets and their inhibitors. Drug development options for all major human PDE families are discussed and cover diverse therapeutic fields, such as neurological/psychiatric, cardiovascular/metabolic, pain, and allergy/respiratory diseases. Finally, emerging chemotherapeutic applications of PDE inhibitors against malaria and other tropical diseases are discussed.




Modifications of Nuclear DNA and Its Regulatory Proteins


Book Description

DNA methylation is essential for the normal development and functioning of organisms. This volume discusses the latest developments in this very active field of research. It presents the evolution of DNA methylation, mammalian DNA methyltransferases, DNA methylation and demethlyation, DNA methylation and silencing and the role it plays in medicine including cancer. Discusses new discoveries, approaches, and ideas Contributions from leading scholars and industry experts Reference guide for researchers involved in molecular biology and related fields




Neglected Diseases and Drug Discovery


Book Description

There are about 8 million deaths each year from neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in the underdeveloped world, whilst drug discovery focus and practice is only recently taking on greater urgency and embracing the latest technologies. This unique book is a state of the art review of drug discovery in respect of NTDs and highlights best practice to guide the ongoing drug discovery effort and also to raise debate and awareness in areas that remain highly neglected. All the major diseases such as malaria, trypanosomatids and TB are covered, with a review of each disease and established compounds, new mechanistic classes and new horizons. Each chapter highlights the key science that has led to breakthroughs, with detailed assessment of the key medicinal chemistry involved, and critical appraisal of new emerging approaches. Later chapters highlight under publicized disease areas where the medical needs are neglected and research is very limited, to raise awareness. The editors, acknowledged experts in the field, have a wealth of experience in successful drug discovery practice and tropical diseases.




Comprehensive Analysis of Parasite Biology


Book Description

Written and edited by experts in the field, this book brings together the current state of the art in phenotypic and rational, target-based approaches to drug discovery against pathogenic protozoa. The chapters focus particularly on virtual compounds and high throughput screening, natural products, computer-assisted drug design, structure-based drug design, mechanism of action identification, and pathway modelling. Furthermore, state-of the art "omics" technologies are described and currently studied enzymatic drug targets are discussed. Mathematical, systems biology-based approaches are introduced as new methodologies for dissecting complex aspects of pathogen survival mechanisms and for target identification. In addition, recently developed anti-parasitic agents targeting particular pathways, which serve as lead compounds for further drug development, are presented.