We have a new preprint out! In this study, we evaluated 343 analogs of the compound AR-12 (https://lnkd.in/eKUBHsVB), which we previously discovered as having host-directed anti-leishmanial activity.
Unlike traditional therapeutics that act directly on the parasite, host-directed therapies target the mammalian host’s cellular pathways to eliminate infection. This strategy reduces the risk of developing drug resistance driven by selective pressure on the parasite.
Leishmania is the world’s second most common parasitic infection after malaria, accounting for an estimated 1.6 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost annually.
In collaboration with RTI International and Duke Chemistry, we identified the lysosome as a novel anti-leishmanial target and developed new analogs with improved potency and safety.
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.04.686469v1