Naegleria fowleri : emerging therapies and translational challenges

Naegleria fowleriis a rare but fatal free-living amoeba with > 97% mortality rate. Despiteadvances in clinical and scientific understanding, therapeutic options remainlimited, and diagnosis is often delayed, presenting significant public healthchallenges. We reviewed recent literature fromthe last decade, using Google scholar and PubMed on N. fowleri treatment, emerging drugcandidates, repurposed therapeutics, and innovative delivery strategies.Advancements in drug screening are highlighted, unveiling novel therapeutictargets and mechanisms of action. Additionally, the role of climate change andenvironmental factors in geographic expansion and increased incidence ofinfections is explored, posing a growing public health risk. Effective managementof N. fowleri infections hinges on early detection and addressingresearch gaps, particularly in understanding transmission/disease mechanisms. Recentadvances in therapeutics, diagnostics, and water treatment to reduceenvironmental contamination by N. fowleri show promise for loweringinfection risk and improving outcomes for primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. Collaborationamong academic institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and water industries isessential, with research advancing treatments and vaccines, and waterindustries contributing by reducing environmental contamination/human exposureto N. fowleri. A combination of treatment strategies and stringentsurveillance will be crucial to limit future outbreaks and improve patientprognosis.