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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Quantification of Intracellular Growth Inside Macrophages is a Fast and Reliable Method for Assessing the Virulence of Leishmania Parasites
10:01

Quantification of Intracellular Growth Inside Macrophages is a Fast and Reliable Method for Assessing the Virulence of Leishmania Parasites

Published on: March 16, 2018

Leishmania sp.: growth and survival are impaired by ion channel blockers

A Ponte-Sucre1, Y Campos, M Fernandez

  • 1Laboratory of Molecular Physiology, I.M.E., Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela.

Experimental Parasitology
|March 21, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Ion transport blockers, including those affecting potassium (K+) and chloride (Cl-) channels, show promise in combating Leishmania parasites. These compounds inhibit parasite growth and reduce intracellular survival, suggesting potential for new leishmanicidal drug development.

Area of Science:

  • Parasitology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Drug Discovery

Background:

  • Leishmania parasites cause leishmaniasis, a significant global health concern.
  • Understanding parasite ion transport mechanisms is crucial for developing novel treatments.
  • Existing treatments for leishmaniasis have limitations, necessitating new therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of ion transport blockers on Leishmania parasite growth and macrophage infection.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of specific blockers targeting potassium (K+), sodium (Na+), and chloride (Cl-) channels.
  • To explore the potential of these blockers as candidates for leishmanicidal drug development.

Main Methods:

  • Tested the effects of 4-aminopyridine, glibenclamide, amiloride, and anthracene-9-carboxylic acid on Leishmania promastigote cultures.
  • Determined the half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) for each drug across three Leishmania strains.
  • Assessed the impact of these blockers on macrophage infection and intracellular parasite survival.

Main Results:

  • The study identified varying EC50 values for different ion transport blockers across Leishmania strains.
  • Higher drug concentrations inhibited the exponential growth of Leishmania promastigotes.
  • Blockers targeting K+, Cl-, and Na+/H+ transport systems significantly reduced intracellular parasite survival without harming macrophages.

Conclusions:

  • Leishmania parasites are susceptible to ion transport blockers, particularly those affecting K+ and Cl- channels.
  • These blockers demonstrate potential for inhibiting parasite growth and intracellular persistence.
  • Further research into the mechanisms of these blockers could lead to the development of new leishmanicidal drugs.

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