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Killing the Dead: Chemotherapeutic Strategies Against Free‐Living Cyst‐Forming Protists ( Acanthamoeba sp. and Balamuthia mandrillaris )
Author(s) -
Siddiqui Ruqaiyyah,
Aqeel Yousuf,
Khan Naveed Ahmed
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of eukaryotic microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 1066-5234
DOI - 10.1111/jeu.12026
Subject(s) - acanthamoeba , biology , cyst , microbiology and biotechnology , protozoa , pathology , medicine
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.