Reporter genes facilitating discovery of drugs targeting protozoan parasites.
Transfection of protozoan parasites, such as Plasmodium, Leishmania, Trypanosoma and Toxoplasma, with various reporter gene constructs, has revolutionized studies to understand the biology of the host-parasite interactions at the cellular level. It has provided impetus to the development of rapid and reliable drug screens both for established drugs and for new molecules against different parasites and other pathogens. Furthermore, reporter genes have proved to be an excellent and promising tool for studying disease progression. Here, we review the recent advances made by using reporter genes for in vitro and in vivo drug screening, high-throughput screening, whole-animal non-invasive imaging for parasites and for the study of several aspects of host-parasite interactions.
Dube
Anuradha
A
Division of Parasitology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226 001, India. anuradha_dube@hotmail.com
Gupta
Reema
R
Singh
Nasib
N
D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology; D014162:Transfection
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins