Killing the Dead: Chemotherapeutic Strategies Against Free‐Living Cyst‐Forming Protists ( Acanthamoeba sp. and Balamuthia mandrillaris )

The opportunist free‐living protists such as A canthamoeba spp. and B alamuthia mandrillaris have become a serious threat to human life. As most available drugs target functional aspects of pathogens, the ability of free‐living protists to transform into metabolically inactive cyst forms presents a challenge in treatment. It is hoped, that the development of broad spectrum antiprotist agents acting against multiple cyst‐forming protists to provide target‐directed inhibition will offer a viable drug strategy in the treatment of these rare infections. Here, we present a comprehensive report on upcoming drug targets, with emphasis on cyst wall biosynthesis along with the related biochemistry of encystment pathways, as we strive to bring ourselves a step closer to being able to combat these deadly diseases.