Effect of protease inhibitors on the intraerythrocytic development of Babesia microti and Babesia duncani, the causative agents of human babesiosis.

ABSTRACT: Human babesiosis is a malaria-like, tick-borne infectious disease with a global distribution. Babesiosis is caused by intraerythrocytic, apicomplexan parasites of the genus Babesia. In the United States, human babesiosis is caused by Babesia microti and Babesia duncani. Current treatment for babesiosis includes either the combination of atovaquone and azithromycin or the combination of clindamycin and quinine. However, the side effects of these agents and the resistance posed by these parasites call for alternative approaches for treating human babesiosis. Proteases play several roles in the context of parasitic lifestyle and regulate basic biological processes including cell death, cell progression, and cell migration. Using the SYBR Green-1 assay, we screened a protease inhibitor library

SUBMITTER: Aderanti T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11780687 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar-Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature