Inhibitory Effect of Aureobasidin A on Toxoplasma gondii
- Sonda, Sabrina Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Zurich
- Sala, Giusy Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, San Paolo University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Ghidoni, Riccardo Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, San Paolo University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Hemphill, Andrew Institute of Parasitology, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
- Pieters, Jean Department of Biochemistry, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel
Published in:
- Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. - American Society for Microbiology. - 2005, vol. 49, no. 5, p. 1794-1801
English
ABSTRACT
The apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is a leading opportunistic pathogen associated with AIDS and congenital birth defects. Due to the need for identifying new parasite-specific treatments, the possibility of targeting sphingolipid biosynthesis in the parasite was investigated. Aureobasidin A, an inhibitor of the enzyme synthesizing the sphingolipid inositol phosphorylceramide, which is present in fungi, plants, and some protozoa but absent in mammalian cells, was found to block in vitro T. gondii replication without affecting host cell metabolism. Aureobasidin A treatment did not induce tachyzoite to bradyzoite stage conversion in T. gondii but resulted in a loss of intracellular structures and vacuolization within the parasite. In addition, aureobasidin A inhibited sphingolipid synthesis in T. gondii . Sphingolipid biosynthetic pathways may therefore be considered targets for the development of anti-T. gondii agents.
- Language
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- English
- Open access status
- bronze
- Identifiers
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- DOI 10.1128/aac.49.5.1794-1801.2005
- ISSN 0066-4804
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/208185
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