DRUG REPURPOSING STRATEGIES FOR INTERRUPTING VECTOR-BORNE DISEASE TRANSMISSION

Stella Ehi Egege, Micheal Abimbola Oladosu*, Moses Adondua Abah, Bukola Oluwaseyi Olufosoye, Chinwe Dolly Udeka

ABSTRACT

Vector-borne diseases remain a significant global health burden, affecting billions and causing substantial morbidity and mortality annually. Traditional drug discovery for these diseases is hindered by lengthy development timelines and substantial costs. Drug repurposing, the identification of new therapeutic applications for existing medications, offers a promising accelerated approach to combat vector-borne disease transmission. This review comprehensively examines current drug repurposing strategies targeting both vector organisms and disease pathogens. We analyse computational approaches including artificial intelligence-driven drug screening, network pharmacology, and structure-based virtual screening that expedite identification of repurposing candidates. Additionally, we evaluate repurposed compounds showing efficacy against major vectors including mosquitoes, ticks, and sandflies, alongside drugs targeting pathogens such as Plasmodium, Dengue virus, and Trypanosoma species. Emerging strategies combining vector control and pathogen inhibition through multi-target repurposed drugs are highlighted. We discuss translational challenges including safety profiles, regulatory pathways, and implementation in endemic regions. The review synthesizes evidence from 2020-2025 demonstrating that drug repurposing represents a viable, cost-effective strategy to rapidly develop interventions against vector-borne diseases, particularly crucial for resource-limited settings.

Keywords: Drug repurposing; Vector-borne diseases; Malaria; Dengue; Computational drug discovery; Vector control; Antiparasitic agents.