Potential TherapeuPotential Therapeutic Targets in Trichomonas spp. for Drug Discovery and Repurposing: A Scoping Reviewtic Targets in Trichomonas spp. for Drug Discovery and Repurposing: A Scoping Review

Trichomonas vaginalis is the etiologic agent of trichomoniasis, the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Despite being a curable disease, treatment relies almost exclusively on nitroimidazoles, and resistant strains have increasingly been reported. In parallel, Tritrichomonas foetus and Trichomonas gallinae cause significant infections in cattle and avian species, respectively, yet their molecular biology remains poorly explored. The absence of vaccines and novel therapeutic classes underscores the urgent need to identify new molecular targets to support alternative treatment strategies. This scoping review aims to identify, characterize, and categorize potential therapeutic targets in Trichomonas spp. (T. vaginalis, T. foetus, and T. gallinae) that have been experimentally or computationally validated, thereby providing a foundation for subsequent in silico target-based drug discovery and repositioning. The review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology using the PCC framework (Population, Concept, Context). Eligible studies will include experimental or in silico research that describes proteins, enzymes, or metabolic pathways, with evidence of essentiality, inhibition, or druggability. Searches will be conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, complemented by grey literature sources. Data extraction will be performed using a structured Microsoft® Excel form and summarized through descriptive and thematic synthesis. Quantitative data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics, while conceptual and evidence gap maps will visualize the distribution of studies and research gaps across species and target classes. The review will consolidate dispersed molecular data on Trichomonas spp., generating a comprehensive repository of validated or putative therapeutic targets. This synthesis is expected to identify conserved and species-specific targets, reveal underexplored biological pathways, and support future computational modeling and drug discovery efforts. By integrating functional, biochemical, omics, and computational evidence, this systematic review will provide a critical framework for the rational development of new antitrichomonal strategies, contributing to the advancement of both human and veterinary parasitology.