Protozoan Chemistry

Selective Inhibitors of Protozoan Protein N-myristoyltransferases as Starting Points for Tropical Disease Medicinal Chemistry Programs

Inhibition of N-myristoyltransferase has been validated pre-clinically as a target for the treatment of fungal and trypanosome infections, using species-specific inhibitors. In order to identify inhibitors of protozoan NMTs, we chose to screen a diverse subset of the Pfizer corporate collection against Plasmodium falciparum and Leishmania donovani NMTs. Primary screening hits against either enz...

Protozoan Parasites

When viewed from the top, Trichodina is circular; side views of the organism reveal a saucer or dome shape (Fig. 1). It has three rings of cilia (small, hair-like projections) encircling its body and oral cavity, which are used for locomotion and feeding. Its body is supported by a rigid ring of interconnected discs called a chitinoid or denticular ring (Fig. 2). Each disc has a thorn-like inne...

Foodborne protozoan parasites.

This report addresses Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Cyclospora, and more briefly, Toxoplasma as the main parasitic protozoa of concern to food production worldwide. Other parasitic protozoa may be spread in food or water but are not considered as great a risk to food manufacture. The protozoan parasites Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Cyclospora have proven potential to cause waterborne and foodborne...

Protozoan Parasite Leishmania donovani

Protozoan Taxonomy and Systematics

The classification of protozoa and other microorganisms above the organizational level of the bacteria has always been dependent on microscopy because the body sizes involved generally range from only one micrometre to one or two millimetres in length. Any structures these species possess, useful in comparative studies of their morphology and thus their taxonomyand systematics, are at the cellu...