Toxoplasma gondii: selective killing of extracellular parasites by oxidation using pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate.
Extracellular Toxoplasma parasites are sensitive to pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) at low micromolar concentrations. Loss of parasite viability following PDTC treatment is shown to be mediated by oxidation, which is reminiscent of PDTC killing in mammalian cells. Intracellular parasites, by contrast, are resistant to PDTC killing, although treatment does cause reversible growth arrest. In addition to the possible implications relative to the biology of the parasite, these observations suggest that PDTC could be of use in eliminating undesired extracellular parasites during assays and selections in vitro.
Camps
M
M
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5124, U.S.A.
Boothroyd
J C
JC
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010413:Penis / Q000166:cytology; D010618:Phenanthrolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013859:Thiocarbamates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development
D000975:Antioxidants; D002614:Chelating Agents; D010618:Phenanthrolines; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D013859:Thiocarbamates; C020972:pyrrolidine dithiocarbamic acid; C028559:bathocuproine sulfonate; D003300:Copper