Insights into Chagas treatment based on the potential of bacteriocin AS-48

Publication date: Available online 29 March 2019Source: International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug ResistanceAuthor(s): Rubén Martín-Escolano, Rubén Cebrián, Javier Martín-Escolano, Maria J. Rosales, Mercedes Maqueda, Manuel Sánchez-Moreno, Clotilde MarínAbstractChagas disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi represents a significant public health problem in Latin America, affecting around 8 million cases worldwide. Nowadays is urgent the identification of new antichagasic agents as the only therapeutic options available, Nifurtimox and Benznidazole, are in use for>40 years, and present high toxicity, limited efficacy and frequent treatment failures in the chronic phase of the disease. Recently, it has been described the antiparasitic effect of AS-48, a bacteriocin produced by Enterococcus faecalis, against Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania spp. In this work, we have demonstrated the in vitro potential of the AS-48 bacteriocin against T. cruzi. Interesting, AS-48 was more effective against the three morphological forms of different T. cruzi strains, and displayed lower cytotoxicity than the reference drug Benznidazole. In addition, AS-48 combines the criteria established as a potential antichagasic agent, resulting in a promising therapeutic alternative. According to the action mechanism, AS-48 trypanocidal activity could be explained in a mitochondrion-dependent manner through a reactive oxygen species production and mitochondrial depolar...

Source: International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance - March 30, 2019 Category: Parasitology Source Type: research