RESUMO
Millions of people worldwide are affected by leishmaniasis, caused by the Leishmania parasite. Effective treatment is challenging due to the biological complexity of the parasite, drug toxicity, and increasing resistance to conventional drugs. To combat this disease, the development of specific strategies to target and selectively eliminate the parasite is crucial. This Review highlights the importance of amino acids in the developmental stages of Leishmania as a factor determining whether the infection progresses or is suppressed. It also explores the use of peptides as alternatives in parasite control and the development of novel targeted treatments. While these strategies show promise for more effective and targeted treatment, further studies to address the remaining challenges are imperative.
