title: Antimicrotubule benzimidazoles inhibit in vitro growth of Pneumocystis carinii.
abstract: Nine antimicrotubule benzimidazole derivatives tested in a Pneumocystis carinii culture system with human embryonic lung fibroblast monolayers inhibited organism proliferation. The concentrations of drugs inhibitory in culture ranged from 10 to 0.1 micrograms/ml, with thiabendazole being the least effective (10 micrograms/ml) and parbendazole being the most effective (0.1 microgram/ml). The parent compound, benzimidazole, was inactive at 10 micrograms/ml. Demonstration that this group of compounds has activity against P. carinii provides a new potential target that can be exploited, the microtubules. Also, the variability in the effectiveness of the compounds provides the basis for studies of structure-activity relationships, which were initiated in this study.
authors.affiliation: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202-5250.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bartlett
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Edlind
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Durkin
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Queener
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects*; D011010:Pneumocystis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D001562:Benzimidazoles