Cell Cycle Inhibition To Treat Sleeping Sickness.

摘要: African trypanosomiasis is caused by infection with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei During infection, this pathogen divides rapidly to high density in bloodstream of its mammalian host a manner similar that leukemia. Like all eukaryotes, T. has cell cycle involving de novo synthesis DNA regulated ribonucleotide reductase (RNR), which catalyzes conversion ribonucleotides into their deoxy form. As an essential enzyme for cycle, RNR common target cancer chemotherapy. We hypothesized inhibition genetic or pharmacological means would impair growth vitro and prolong survival infected animals. Our results demonstrate highly effective suppressing both vivo These support drug discovery efforts targeting not only but possibly also other infections eukaryotic pathogens.IMPORTANCE The development drugs treat pathogens challenging because many key virulence factors have closely related homologues humans. Drug toxicity greatly limits these efforts. For replicate at rate, especially blood, alternative approach directly, much as done some hematologic malignancies. presented here indicate via killing trypanosomes prolonging