Figure - available from: BMC Infectious Diseases
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Structure of mycolactone A/B. Mycolactone A/B has a core cyclic lactone ring (C1-C11) and two highly unsaturated acyl side chains produced from polyketides. The longer "Southern" chain is numbered C1′-C16′, and the upper "Northern" chain is made up of C12-C20. Mycolactone exists as a 3:2 ratio of spontaneously generating geometric isomers around the double bond at C4′ C5′ (depicted by the wavy line between C5′ and C6′)
Source publication
Background
Mycobacterium ulcerans is the causative agent of Buruli ulcer. The pathology of M. ulcerans disease has been attributed to the secretion of a potent macrolide cytotoxin known as mycolactone which plays an important role in the virulence of the disease. Mycolactone is a biomarker for the diagnosis of BU that can be detected using the fluo...
Citations
Introduction
The World Health Organization (WHO) initiated a unified effort to address skin‐related neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in 2017. This effort increased attention and resources allocated toward decreasing the burden of tropical skin diseases. It emphasized an “integrated approach” to detect and treat multiple co‐existing NTDs at once. This article will outline new diagnostic tests, treatment options, and vaccine development for neglected tropical skin diseases since the initiative began.
Data Sources
A PubMed search of clinical trials, randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta‐analyses published since 2017 was performed.
Results
The WHO's initiative has already seen success, increasing the surveillance of leprosy and the distribution of treatment for yaws. It has encouraged the development of new point‐of‐care tests and better‐tolerated treatment options. It has also brought new challenges, with the rise of resistant organisms. Development of point‐of‐care DNA‐RNA‐based testing may improve drug resistance monitoring. New vaccines are needed for long‐term control of skin NTDs in areas with high transmission rates.
