Editorial: Chagas disease novel drug targets and treatments

Chagas disease (ChD), also known as American Trypanosomiasis, is a parasitic disease caused by the hemoflagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. The disease is endemic to Latin America with an estimated 6-7 million people infected. Today, ChD is considered and emerging global health concern due to imported cases through traveling and migration, as well as to its broadening geographic endemism, like in the case of the United States Despite this, treatment options for ChD remain limited and exhibit significant adverse effects. Current treatment options are based on two nitroderivative and nitrofuran compounds, Benznidazole (Bz) and Nifurtimox (Nx), which were introduced in clinical medicine over 50 years ago and despite being the only two drugs approved for the treatment of ChD, present several limitations for their use.