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Cysteine proteases in protozoan parasites
Jair L Siqueira-Neto1, Anjan Debnath1, Laura-Isobel McCall1
1Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America.
Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases
|August 24, 2018
Summary
Cysteine proteases (CPs) are crucial for protozoan parasite survival and disease development. Targeting these enzymes offers promising strategies for novel chemotherapy and vaccines against impactful parasitic infections.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Biochemistry
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- Cysteine proteases (CPs) are vital for protozoan parasite pathogenesis, aiding in host invasion, nutrient acquisition, and immune evasion.
- Clan CA cysteine proteases are the most studied group, implicated in diseases caused by Entamoeba histolytica, Leishmania spp., Trypanosoma brucei, T. cruzi, Cryptosporidium spp., Plasmodium spp., and Toxoplasma gondii.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on clan CA cysteine proteases in seven impactful protozoan parasites.
- To highlight the therapeutic potential of these CPs as drug and vaccine targets.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing research on clan CA cysteine proteases in protozoan parasites.
- Analysis of in vitro and in vivo studies evaluating the druggability of these targets.
Main Results:
- Clan CA proteases from T. brucei, T. cruzi, and Plasmodium spp. are well-characterized as druggable targets.
- Several candidate inhibitors targeting these parasitic CPs are currently under development.
Conclusions:
- Cysteine proteases represent attractive therapeutic targets for protozoan parasitic diseases.
- Further characterization of CPs from various protozoan parasites is essential for identifying novel chemotherapy targets.
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