Chitin synthesis inhibitors prevent cyst formation by Entamoeba trophozoites |
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Authors: | Boaz Avron Robert N Deutsch David Mirelman |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Biophysics, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.;2. Unit for Molecular Biology of Parasitic Diseases, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. |
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Abstract: | Cysts of Entamoeba invadens obtained under axenic culture conditions have been reported to be similar to cysts of the human intestinal parasite E histolytica both in morphology and chitin presence in their wails. Mature E. invadens cyst forms, isolated from cultures following discontinuous Percoll gradient sedimentation were resistant (>80%) to detergent treatment. Addition of chitin synthesis inhibitors such as Polyoxin D and Nikkomycin (50 μg/ml) to cultures in encystation media markedly inhibited (>85%) the formation of detergent resistant cysts and prevented the incorporation of radiolabeled chitin precursor N-acetyl3H]glucosamine. These findings suggest that chitin synthesis inhibitors may serve as drugs which specifically block the life cycle of the Entamoeba parasite. |
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