Selenium and protozoan parasitic infections: selenocompounds and selenoproteins potential

Abstract

The current drug treatments against protozoan parasitic diseases including Chagas, malaria, leishmaniasis, and toxoplasmosis represent good examples of drug resistance mechanisms and have shown diverse side effects. Therefore, the identification of novel therapeutic strategies and drug compounds against such life-threatening diseases is urgent. According to the successful usage of selenium (Se) compounds-based therapy against some diseases, this therapeutic strategy has been recently further underlined against these parasitic diseases by targeting different parasite´s essential pathways. On the other hand, due to the important functions played by parasite selenoproteins in their biology (such as modulating the host immune response), they can be also considered as a novel therapeutic strategy by designing specific inhibitors against these important proteins. In addition, the immunomodulatory potentiality of these compounds to trigger T helper type 1 (Th1) cells and cytokinemediated immune response for the substantial induction of proinflammatory cytokines, thus, Se, selenoproteins, and parasite selenoproteins could be further investigated to find possible vaccine antigens. Herein, we collect and present the results of some studies regarding Se-based therapy against protozoan parasitic diseases and highlight relevant information and some viewpoints that might be insightful to advance toward more effective studies in the future.

Block Copolymer Micelles Encapsulating Au(III) Bis(Dithiolene) Complexes as Promising Nanostructures with Antiplasmodial Activity

“…Selenium compounds have also shown promising results in parasitic diseases. The mechanism of activity is not clear yet but it seems that Se can target different parasite’s essential pathways upon interaction with selenoproteins and thiol groups that cause the impairment of antioxidant enzymes and proteins, leading to disruption of antioxidant systems [ 39 , 40 ].…”

Emerging alternatives to traditional anthelmintics: the in vitro antiparasitic activity of silver and selenium nanoparticles, and pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel extract against Haemonchus contortus

“…Similarly, SeNPs have been shown to have antifungal and antiviral effects, suggesting that they, too, may interfere with essential cellular processes (Ferro et al 2021 ; Sharmin et al 2021 ; Toprakcioglu et al 2023 ). In addition, both AgNPs and SeNPs have been shown to induce oxidative stress and increase the production of reactive oxygen species, which can trigger cell death pathways (Afifi and Oshiba 2018 ; Ferro et al 2021 ; Gad et al 2021 ; KD and Venugopal 2022 ; Lin et al 2021 ; Martínez-Esquivias et al 2021 ; Rashidi et al 2022 ; Vahdati and Tohidi Moghadam 2020 ). In general, the mechanism of nanoparticles may include disruption of the parasite cell membrane, inhibition of enzymatic activities, generation of ROS, induction of apoptosis, disruption of parasite metabolism, alteration of parasite gene expression, modulation of the immune system, physical damage, disruption of the reproductive system, disruption of the nervous system, and so on.…”

Metal-based compounds containing selenium: An appealing approach towards novel therapeutic drugs with anticancer and antimicrobial effects

“…Nevertheless, and to the best of our knowledge, a revision focused on the medicinal applications of metal-based compounds incorporating Se has not been yet reported to date. Thus, given the increasing interest in the use of metal-based compounds in medicinal chemistry [9,[74][75][76] and the fact that the inclusion of Se is a valid design strategy to obtain therapeutic agents [67,77,78], we felt that it was timely to provide a summary and an update of the latest developments in this field.…”