DNA topoisomerase I from parasitic protozoa: a potential target for chemotherapy

The growing occurrence of drug resistant strains of unicellular prokaryotic parasites, along with insecticide-resistant vectors, are the factors contributing to the increased prevalence of tropical diseases in underdeveloped and developing countries, where they are endemic. Malaria, cryptosporidiosis, African and American trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis threaten human beings, both for the high mortality rates involved and the economic loss resulting from morbidity. Due to the fact that effective immunoprophylaxis is not available at present; preventive sanitary measures and pharmacological approaches are the only sources to control the undesirable effects of such diseases. Current anti-parasitic chemotherapy is expensive, has undesirable side effects or, in many patients, is only marginally effective. Under this point of view molecular biology techniques and drug discovery must walk together in order to find new targets for chemotherapy intervention. The identification of DNA topoisomerases as a promising drug target is based on the clinical success of camptothecin derivatives as anticancer agents. The recent detection of substantial differences between trypanosome and leishmania DNA topoisomerase IB with respect to their homologues in mammals has provided a new lead in the study of the structural determinants that can be effectively targeted. The present report is an up to date review of the new findings on type IB DNA topoisomerase in unicellular parasites and the role of these enzymes as targets for therapeutic agents.