BACKGROUND An increasing amount of research has led to the positioning of nucleoside diphosphate kinases (NDPK/NDK) as key metabolic enzymes among all organisms. They contribute to the maintenance the intracellular di- and tri- phosphate nucleoside homeostasis, but they also are involved in widely diverse processes such as gene regulation, apoptosis, signal transduction and many other regulatory roles. OBJETIVE Examine in depth the NDPKs of trypanosomatid parasites responsible for devastating human diseases (e.g., Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania spp.) which deserve special attention. METHODS The earliest and latest advances in the topic were explored, focusing on trypanosomatid NDPK features, multifunctionality and suitability as molecular drug targets. FINDINGS Trypanosomatid NDPKs appear to play functions different from their host counterparts. Evidences indicate that they would perform key roles in the parasite metabolism such as nucleotide homeostasis, drug resistance, DNA damage responses and gene regulation, as well as host-parasite interactions, infection, virulence and immune evasion, placing them as attractive pharmacological targets. MAIN CONCLUSIONS NDPKs are very interesting multifunctional enzymes. In the present review, the potential of trypanosomatid NDPKs was highlighted, raising awareness of their value not only with respect to parasite biology but also as molecular targets.

El artículo revisa a manera de homenaje el aporte a la historia de la filosofía colombiana del profesor Jaime Rubio Angulo. Se identifican los hitos en la producción de su obra y bajo la lupa de la vivencia con el maestro (como uno más de sus estudiantes) se caracteriza su pensamiento, sus intereses académicos y su labor como investigador y docente. Se concluye con la relación entre hermenéutica y contexto desde la perspectiva del maestro Rubio.

The article reviews, as a form of tribute, the contribution to the Colombian history of philosophy of Professor Jaime Rubio Angulo. Under the personal experience as one of his students, the author identifes and characterizes the landmarks in the Maestros' production, thought, academic interests, and work as researcher and teacher. Finally, he shows the relationship between hermeneutics and context from the Maestro's perspective.

O artigo revisa como forma de homenagem a contribuição para a história da filosofa colombiana do professor Jaime Rubio Angulo. Identificam-se os marcos na produção de sua obra e sob a lupa da vivência com o mestre (como mais um de seus estudantes) se caracteriza seu pensamento, seus interesses acadêmicos e seu trabalho como pes-quisador e docente. Conclui-se com a relação entre hermenêutica e contexto desde a perspectiva do mestre Rubio.