How Genomics is Helping Fight Neglected Tropical Diseases
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of 20 conditions that mostly affect people in tropical areas, especially those living in poverty. These diseases have been overlooked for a long time, but thanks to genomics, scientists are learning more about them and finding new ways to prevent and treat them.
What Are Neglected Tropical Diseases?
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines NTDs as a group of 20 diseases, like leprosy and African sleeping sickness, that impact over 1 billion people worldwide every year. These diseases mostly affect poor communities, trapping people in a cycle of poverty because they cause pain and disability. This makes it hard for children to go to school and adults to work, which worsens the situation.
These diseases are hard to study and control because they involve many factors, including different environments and hosts (like humans and animals). They are called "neglected" because they haven’t received enough attention from researchers and healthcare providers.
How Genomics is Making a Difference
Genomics, the study of all the genetic material of an organism, is now playing a key role in tackling NTDs. Scientists are sequencing the genomes of the organisms that cause these diseases. This means they are looking at all the genetic information of these organisms to understand how they live, grow, and make people sick.
By understanding the genetics of these organisms, scientists can find new ways to stop them. This can lead to the development of new medicines that are better at targeting these diseases and helping to eliminate them.
Progress So Far and What’s Next
In 2021, WHO launched a plan to end suffering from NTDs by 2030. As of 2023, 50 countries have already managed to eliminate at least one of these diseases. Genomics is crucial in this fight, helping scientists discover new ways to treat and prevent these diseases.
In the next part of this series, we’ll explore how genomics is being used to fight specific NTDs like schistosomiasis, a disease caused by parasitic worms.
Conclusion
Genomics is giving us new tools to fight neglected tropical diseases, offering hope to millions of people affected by these conditions. By learning more about the organisms that cause these diseases, we can develop better treatments and work towards ending NTDs for good. Stay tuned for more updates on this important topic.