Screening of chemical compound libraries identified new anti-Toxoplasma gondii agents

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is the etiological agent of toxoplasmosis, a common parasitic disease that affects nearly one-third of the human population. The primary infection can be asymptomatic in healthy individuals but may prove fatal in immunocompromised individuals. Available treatment options for toxoplasmosis patients are limited, underscoring the urgent need to identify and develop new therapies. Non-biased screening of libraries of chemical compounds including the repurposing of well-characterized compounds is emerging as viable approach to achieving this goal. In the present investigation, we screened libraries of natural product and FDA-approved compounds to identify those that inhibited T. gondii growth. We identified 32 new compounds that potently inhibit T. gondii growth. Our findings are new and promising, and further strengthen the prospects of drug repurposing as well as the screening of a wide range of chemical compounds as a viable source of alternative anti-parasitic therapeutic agents.

Protozoan persister-like cells and drug treatment failure

“…The Malaria and Pathogen box compounds (https://www.pathogenbox.org/) selected in high throughput screens against malaria and other pathogens were screened to find compounds that hit biological targets shared among apicomplexans 117 . A number of other chemical libraries have been tested against T. gondii to possibly identify new therapeutic compounds [118][119][120][121] , including all FDA approved drugs seeking compounds for repurposing. In addition, screening of compounds that are active against malaria identified relatively few candidates that were effective against T. gondii 122 .…”

Determination of lumefantrine as an effective drug against Toxoplasma gondii infection – in vitro and in vivo study

“…It is necessary to explore whether lumefantrine has anti- T. gondii activity in vitro and in vivo . Besides, studies that have shown successful treatment for toxoplasmosis patients are limited, indicating the urgent need to identify and develop new therapies (Adeyemi et al ., 2018) and data about the inhibition of T. gondii using lumefantrine is not available. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the effect of lumefantrine treatment on T. gondii infection in vivo and in vitro .…”

Anti- Toxoplasma gondii effect of Lumefantrine in vitro and in vivo

“…T. gondii is an apicomplexa intracellular protozoa, which has a similar infection mechanism to Plasmodium. However, studies that have shown successful treatment for toxoplasmosis patients are limited, indicating the urgent need to identify and develop new therapies [26]. In addition, data about the inhibition of T. gondii using lumefantrine is not available.…”