Abstract
Schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma spp. is a serious public health concern, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Praziquantel is the only drug currently administrated to treat this disease. However, praziquantel-resistant parasites have been identified in endemic areas and can be generated in the laboratory. Therefore, it is essential to find new therapeutics. Antioxidants are appealing drug targets. In order to survive in their hosts, schistosomes are challenged by reactive oxygen species from intrinsic and extrinsic sources. Schistosome antioxidant enzymes have been identified as essential proteins and novel drug targets and inhibition of the antioxidant response can lead to parasite death. Because the organization of the redox network in schistosomes is significantly different from that in humans, new drugs are being developed targeting schistosome antioxidants. In this paper the redox biology of schistosomes is discussed and their potential use as drug targets is reviewed. It is hoped that compounds targeting parasite antioxidant responses will become clinically relevant drugs in the near future.
Keywords: Schistosoma, drug development, antioxidants, glutathione, thioredoxin, thioredoxin glutathione reductase, praziquantel, drug targets, parasite death, redox biology
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:The Redox Biology of Schistosome Parasites and Applications for Drug Development
Volume: 18 Issue: 24
Author(s): Hsin-Hung Huang, Coraline Rigouin and David L. Williams
Affiliation:
Keywords: Schistosoma, drug development, antioxidants, glutathione, thioredoxin, thioredoxin glutathione reductase, praziquantel, drug targets, parasite death, redox biology
Abstract: Schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma spp. is a serious public health concern, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Praziquantel is the only drug currently administrated to treat this disease. However, praziquantel-resistant parasites have been identified in endemic areas and can be generated in the laboratory. Therefore, it is essential to find new therapeutics. Antioxidants are appealing drug targets. In order to survive in their hosts, schistosomes are challenged by reactive oxygen species from intrinsic and extrinsic sources. Schistosome antioxidant enzymes have been identified as essential proteins and novel drug targets and inhibition of the antioxidant response can lead to parasite death. Because the organization of the redox network in schistosomes is significantly different from that in humans, new drugs are being developed targeting schistosome antioxidants. In this paper the redox biology of schistosomes is discussed and their potential use as drug targets is reviewed. It is hoped that compounds targeting parasite antioxidant responses will become clinically relevant drugs in the near future.
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Cite this article as:
Huang Hsin-Hung, Rigouin Coraline and L. Williams David, The Redox Biology of Schistosome Parasites and Applications for Drug Development, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2012; 18 (24) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161212801327220
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161212801327220 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
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