Current and future perspectives on the chemotherapy of the parasitic protozoa Trichomonas vaginalis and Entamoeba histolytica.

John F Honek, Ignace A Moya, Zhengding Su

Journal: Future medicinal chemistry 2011;1(4):619-43

PMID: 21426030

Abstract

Trichomonas vaginalis and Entamoeba histolytica are clinically important protozoa that affect humans. T. vaginalis produces sexually transmitted infections and E. histolytica is the causative agent of amebic dysentery. Metronidazole, a compound first used to treat T. vaginalis in 1959, is still the main drug used worldwide to treat these pathogens. It is essential to find new biochemical differences in these organisms that could be exploited to develop new antiprotozoal chemotherapeutics. Recent findings associated with T. vaginalis and E. histolytica biochemistry and host-pathogen interactions are surveyed. Knowledge concerning the biochemistry of these parasites is serving to form the foundation for the development of new approaches to control these important human pathogens.

Address: Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue, Waterloo, ON N2L3G1, Canada.

DOI: 10.4155/fmc.09.59

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MeSH Terms: Antiprotozoal Agents, Dysentery, Amebic, Entamoeba histolytica, Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases, Host-Pathogen Interactions, Humans, Metronidazole, Pyruvate, Orthophosphate Dikinase, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Signal Transduction, Sulfur, Trichomonas Infections, Trichomonas vaginalis