Novel and promising compounds to treat Cryptosporidium parvum infections

No fully effective approved drug therapy exists for Cryptosporidium infections of immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. Here, we investigated 11 benzimidazole derivatives carrying substituted thioalkyl and thiobenzyl groups at position 2 of benzimidazole nucleus and additional substituents at the benzene part of benzimidazole for inhibition of the in vitro growth of the intestinal protozoan parasite, Cryptosporidium parvum. Three of them, i.e., 5-carboxy-2-(4-nitrobenzylthio)-1H-benzimidazole, 5,6-dichloro-2-(4-nitrobenzylthio)-1H-benzimidazole, and 4,6-dichloro-2-(4-nitrobenzylthio)-1H-benzimidazole, (compounds 5, 7, and 8) were the most active (IC50 28–31 μM). The concentration of compounds 5, 7, and 8 that caused 50% growth inhibition in human enterocytic HCT-8 cells by a quantitative alkaline phosphatase immunoassay was comparable with those obtained for paromomycin

Novel and promising compounds to treat Cryptosporidium parvum infections

No fully effective approved drug therapy exists for Cryptosporidium infections of immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. Here, we investigated 11 benzimidazole derivatives carrying substituted thioalkyl and thiobenzyl groups at position 2 of benzimidazole nucleus and additional substituents at the benzene part of benzimidazole for inhibition of the in vitro growth of the intestinal protozoan parasite, Cryptosporidium parvum. Three of them, i.e., 5-carboxy-2-(4-nitrobenzylthio)-1H-benzimidazole, 5,6-dichloro-2-(4-nitrobenzylthio)-1H-benzimidazole, and 4,6-dichloro-2-(4-nitrobenzylthio)-1H-benzimidazole, (compounds 5, 7, and 8) were the most active (IC50 28–31 μM). The concentration of compounds 5, 7, and 8 that caused 50% growth inhibition in human enterocytic HCT-8 cells by a quantitative alkaline phosphatase immunoassay was comparable with those obtained for paromomycin

Cloning, sequence analysis and expression of ovine CD154 (CD40 ligand)

The CD154 (CD40 ligand) molecule is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family and plays an important role in the interaction between antigen-specific lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells. In this study, reverse transcription-PCR cloning was used to derive the sequence encoding ovine CD154. Sequence analysis of the cloned CD154 gene showed a similarity of 97%, 89%, and 88% with the bovine, porcine and human sequences, respectively, at the nucleic acid level. The deduced amino acid sequence for the ovine CD154 shared 97%, 91%, and 87% similarity with the CD154 protein of bovine, porcine and human. The cysteine residues characteristic of the TNF family and N-linked glycosylation sites are conserved although one of the cysteine residues (Cys9) appeared only in ovine CD154. The isolated CD154 sequence was expressed as a mature protein in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The analysis of expression of ovine CD154 in mammalian cells by Western blot confirmed the cross reactivity with anti-CD154 antibody

Badania nad ultrastruktura otoczek onkosfer Taenia saginata pochodzacych od pacjenta leczonego niklosamidem

The gravid proglottids of Taenia saginata from human infection before and after treatment of patient with niclosamide (Yomesan) were used for studies on oncosphere envelope ultrastructure. The envelopes examined were intact after drug treatment. The samples from niclosamide-treated and untreated patients were similar with respect to number and kinds of the protective structures surrounding the oncospheres inside gravid proglottids. Their morphology was generally similar to this described earlier for other taeniid species. Details of the ultrastructure of oncospheral envelopes from niclosamide-treated patients are presented in the paper. Contamination of the environment with eggs from treated patients, particularly in poor sanitary conditions, is discussed

Badania nad ultrastrukturą otoczek onkosfer Taenia saginata pochodzących od pacjenta leczonego niklosamidem

The gravid proglottids of Taenia saginata from human infection before and after treatment of patient with niclosamide (Yomesan) were used for studies on oncosphere envelope ultrastructure. The envelopes examined were intact after drug treatment. The samples from niclosamide-treated and untreated patients were similar with respect to number and kinds of the protective structures surrounding the oncospheres inside gravid proglottids. Their morphology was generally similar to this described earlier for other taeniid species. Details of the ultrastructure of oncospheral envelopes from niclosamide-treated patients are presented in the paper. Contamination of the environment with eggs from treated patients, particularly in poor sanitary conditions, is discussed