Preclinical advances and the immunophysiology of a new therapeutic Chagas disease vaccine
Kathryn M. Jones, Cristina Poveda, Leroy Versteeg, María Elena Bottazzi, Peter J. Hotez
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: leads to a progressive cardiac disease, known as chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC). A new therapeutic Chagas disease vaccine is in development to augment the existing antiparasitic chemotherapy drugs. AREAS COVERED: 17 immune response that leads to reduced parasite burdens and tissue pathology. Furthermore, we report vaccine-linked chemotherapy, a dose-sparing strategy to further reduce parasite burdens and tissue pathology. EXPERT OPINION: Our vaccine-linked chemotherapeutic approach is a multimodal treatment strategy, addressing both the parasite persistence and the underlying deleterious host inflammatory and fibrotic responses that lead to cardiac dysfunction. In targeting treatment towards patients with chronic indeterminate or early determinate Chagas disease, this vaccine-linked chemotherapeutic approach will be highly economical and will reduce the global disease burden and deaths due to CCC.