What are the targets for chemotherapeutic agents in parasitic diseases?

Sourav PanSeptember 29, 2024

Answered

Chemotherapeutic agents for parasitic diseases target various aspects of the parasites’ biology and metabolism to inhibit their growth, reproduction, or survival. Here are the primary targets for these agents:

1. Metabolic Pathways

• Energy Production: Many antiparasitic drugs target the metabolic pathways that parasites use for energy production. For example, drugs like atovaquone inhibit mitochondrial electron transport in Plasmodium species, disrupting ATP synthesis 3.
• Folate Synthesis: Some drugs, such as sulfonamides and pyrimethamine, inhibit folate synthesis, which is crucial for nucleic acid synthesis in many protozoan parasites 3.

2. Cellular Structures

• Cell Membrane Integrity: Certain drugs, like amphotericin B, target the cell membrane of fungi and some protozoa, disrupting membrane integrity and leading to cell lysis 3.
• Microtubule Function: Drugs such as benzimidazoles (e.g., albendazole) disrupt microtubule formation, which is essential for cell division and intracellular transport in helminths 3.

3. Nucleic Acid Synthesis

• DNA and RNA Synthesis: Some chemotherapeutic agents interfere with the synthesis of nucleic acids. For instance, nitazoxanide disrupts the electron transport chain and also affects the synthesis of nucleic acids in certain protozoa 3.

4. Enzymatic Functions

• Enzyme Inhibition: Many drugs target specific enzymes critical for the survival of parasites. For example, protease inhibitors can disrupt protein processing in parasites, while inhibitors of chitin synthesis can affect helminths 3.

5. Host-Pathogen Interactions

• Immune Modulation: Some treatments aim to enhance the host’s immune response against the parasite. For example, immunomodulatory agents can help the host mount a more effective response against parasitic infections 1.

6. Specific Pathogen Targets

• Protozoan Targets: For protozoan parasites like Leishmania and Trypanosoma, specific drugs target unique metabolic pathways or structures, such as the inhibition of glycolysis or the disruption of the parasite’s unique organelles (e.g., glycosomes) 3.
• Helminth Targets: In helminths, drugs may target neuromuscular function, leading to paralysis and expulsion of the worms. For example, ivermectin acts on glutamate-gated chloride channels, causing paralysis in nematodes 3.