Leishmaniasis is one of the fast-growing parasitic diseases worldwide. The treatment of this fatal disease presents a daunting challenge because of its adverse effects, necessity for long-term treatment regime, unavailability of functional drugs, emergence of drug resistance and the related expenditure. This calls for an urgent need for novel drugs and the evaluation of new targets. Proteins of the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway are validated as drug targets in pathogenic bacteria and certain viruses. Likewise, this pathway has been speculated as a suitable target against parasite infections. Fatty acid synthesis in parasites seems to be very complex and distinct from the counterpart mammalian host due to the presence of unique mechanisms for fatty acid biosynthesis and acquisition. In recent times, there have been few evidences of the existence of this pathway in the bloodstream form of some pathogens. The fatty acid biosynthesis thus presents a viable and attractive target for emerging therapeutics. Understanding the mechanisms underlying fatty acid metabolism is key to identifying a potential drug target. However, investigations in this direction are still limited and this article attempts to outline the existing knowledge, while highlighting the scope and relevance of the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway as a drug target. This review highlights the advances in the treatment of leishmaniasis, the importance of lipids in the pathogen, known facts about the fatty acid biosynthesis in Leishmania and how this pathway can be manipulated to combat leishmaniasis, suggesting novel drug targets.

利什曼病是世界范围内发展迅速的寄生虫病之一。由于其不良反应、长期治疗方案的必要性、功能性药物的不可用、耐药性的出现和相关费用，治疗这种致命疾病提出了艰巨的挑战。这就迫切需要新药和新靶点的评估。脂肪酸生物合成途径的蛋白质被证实为致病细菌和某些病毒的药物靶标。同样，该途径已被推测为针对寄生虫感染的合适靶标。由于脂肪酸生物合成和获取的独特机制的存在，寄生虫中的脂肪酸合成似乎非常复杂并且与对应的哺乳动物宿主不同。近来，几乎没有证据表明在某些病原体的血流形式中存在这种途径。因此，脂肪酸生物合成为新兴疗法提供了一个可行且有吸引力的目标。了解脂肪酸代谢的机制是确定潜在药物靶点的关键。然而，这方面的研究仍然有限，本文试图概述现有知识，同时强调脂肪酸生物合成途径作为药物靶点的范围和相关性。这篇综述重点介绍了利什曼病治疗的进展、脂质在病原体中的重要性、关于脂肪酸生物合成的已知事实 了解脂肪酸代谢的机制是确定潜在药物靶点的关键。然而，这方面的研究仍然有限，本文试图概述现有知识，同时强调脂肪酸生物合成途径作为药物靶点的范围和相关性。这篇综述重点介绍了利什曼病治疗的进展、脂质在病原体中的重要性、关于脂肪酸生物合成的已知事实 了解脂肪酸代谢的机制是确定潜在药物靶点的关键。然而，这方面的研究仍然有限，本文试图概述现有知识，同时强调脂肪酸生物合成途径作为药物靶点的范围和相关性。这篇综述重点介绍了利什曼病治疗的进展、脂质在病原体中的重要性、关于脂肪酸生物合成的已知事实利什曼原虫以及如何操纵这一途径来对抗利什曼病，提出了新的药物靶点。