Zinc(II)-Dipicolylamine Coordination Complexes as Targeting and Chemotherapeutic Agents for Leishmania major.

ABSTRACT: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease that causes painful lesions and severe disfigurement. Modern treatment relies on a few chemotherapeutics with serious limitations, and there is a need for more effective alternatives. This study describes the selective targeting of zinc(II)-dipicolylamine (ZnDPA) coordination complexes toward Leishmania major, one of the species responsible for cutaneous leishmaniasis. Fluorescence microscopy of L. major promastigotes treated with a fluorescently labeled ZnDPA probe indicated rapid accumulation of the probe within the axenic promastigote cytosol. The antileishmanial activities of eight ZnDPA complexes were measured using an in vitro assay. All tested complexes exhibited selective toxicity against L. major axenic promastigotes, with 50

SUBMITTER: Rice DR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4862449 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature