Lipoprotein biosynthesis as a target for anti-Wolbachia treatment of filarial nematodes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis are debilitating diseases caused by filarial nematodes. Disease pathogenesis is induced by inflammatory responses following the death of the parasite. Wolbachia endosymbionts of filariae are potent inducers of innate and adaptive inflammation and bacterial lipoproteins have been identified as the ligands that bind toll-like receptors (TLR) 2 and TLR6. Lipoproteins are important structural and functional components of bacteria and therefore enzymes involved in Wolbachia lipoprotein biosynthesis are potential chemotherapeutic targets.

Results

Globomycin, a signal peptidase II (LspA) inhibitor, has activity against Gram-negative bacteria and a putative lspA gene has been identified from the Wolbachia genome of Brugia malayi (wB

SUBMITTER: Johnston KL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2964653 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature