title: Drug cytotoxicity assay for African trypanosomes and Leishmania species.
abstract: The trypanosomes and Leishmania species are parasitic protozoa that afflict millions of people throughout the world. If not treated, African trypanosomiasis and visceral leishmaniasis are fatal. The available drugs are severely limited by toxicity, marginal efficacy, the requirement for parenteral administration, and spreading drug resistance. In this study, a spectrophotometric assay was developed and validated for measuring the cytotoxicity of test compounds against axenically cultured bloodstream-form Trypanosoma brucei (African trypanosomes) and promastigotes of Leishmania donovani. Enzymatic hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl phosphate, monitored by a microtiter plate reader, is a reliable surrogate for parasite cell counts. The assay is simple, inexpensive, and highly reproducible. The coefficient of variation for EC50 values is < 10% for determinations obtained over several months. This method permits the rapid screening of candidates for much-needed new drugs against these parasites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205-2185, USA.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Bodley
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: McGarry
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Shapiro
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004133:Diminazene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods*; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000187:drug effects*; D010419:Pentamidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; D010419:Pentamidine; D000666:Amphotericin B; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; C003915:diminazene aceturate; D002166:Camptothecin; D004133:Diminazene