Preface

Upon receiving a proposal for writing a book, my first thought was to bring current information in research activities for graduate students from all walks of Health, as well as for professionals who deal with daily difficulties in their work routine in countries where neglected diseases are endemic. I would like to show that alternatives for the treatment, diagnosis and control of these diseases exist, being necessary to promote the translation of scientific knowledge into practical applications. In addition to the need to overcome political barriers however, the latter are out of our reach. The eBook will present a content of interest to several areas, including diagnosis, therapy, vaccinology, immunology and molecular biology, aimed at tropical diseases.

The chapters will address various topics. Parasites and other microorganisms responsible for causing a variety of human and non-human diseases, of varying gravities, in both new and old worlds will be studied. In addition, the distribution and adaptation these different organisms in tropical and subtropical countries, as well as the usual habitats of vectors that favour contamination of poor neglected populations and the increasing expansion to periurban and urban areas, with different social and economic development will discussed.

Different methodologies, antigens, molecular targets and vaccine approaches will be detailed and discussed; its advantages and disadvantages, and the various applications including bioinformatics tools used for these surveys.

I hope that this book can help stimulate health professionals, whether medical, biologist, veterinarians, nurses, biomedical, among others, to implement control measures or initiate and continue studies aimed at improving the quality of life of affected populations. Scientific alternatives exist but, need to be associated with political actions; the sanitary education, the minimum conditions of food and housing.

All scientific knowledge generated by a privileged part of the world's population that has access to develop the intellect must be applied to the strengthening and sustainability of all. I hope that the addition of the informations placed in this book can contribute to spread these ideas.