Antibacterial activities of the antiparasitic drugs nifurtimox and benznidazole.
Both nifurtimox and benznidazole, which are used for the treatment of Chagas' disease, also display marked antibacterial activities. Characteristically for nitroheterocyclic compounds, they are much more active against anaerobic and microaerophilic bacteria than against aerobic bacteria. Nitroreductase-deficient aerobes are completely resistant, whereas SOS-repair-deficient strains are moderately susceptible. Those strains are rapidly killed.
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Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Heidelberg, Faculty of Clinical Medicine Mannheim, Federal Republic of Germany.
D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000187:drug effects; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009547:Nifurtimox / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009581:Nitrofurans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009593:Nitroimidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
D009581:Nitrofurans; D009593:Nitroimidazoles; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; D009547:Nifurtimox; C009999:benzonidazole