Killing Two Birds with One Stone: Discovery of Dual Inhibitors of Oxygen and Fumarate Respiration in Zoonotic Parasite, Echinococcus multilocularis.

ABSTRACT: Ascofuranone (AF), a meroterpenoid isolated from various filamentous fungi, including Acremonium egyptiacum, has been reported as a potential lead candidate for drug development against parasites and cancer. In this study, we demonstrated that AF and its derivatives are potent anthelminthic agents, particularly against Echinococcus multilocularis, which is the causative agent of alveolar echinococcosis. We measured the inhibitory activities of AF and its derivatives on the mitochondrial aerobic and anaerobic respiratory systems of E. multilocularis larvae. Several derivatives inhibited complex II (succinate:quinone reductase [SQR]; IC₅₀ = 0.037 to 0.135 μM) and also complex I to III (NADH:cytochrome c reductase; IC₅₀ = 0.008 to 0.401 μM), but not complex

SUBMITTER: Enkai S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10019194 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature