New anti-Leishmania agent

2011-0906-06
researcher's name
affiliation
research field
Biomolecular chemistry
keyword

background

Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic, tropical infectious disease transmitted to humans through sandflies. It has infected 12 million people in 88 regions, and it is estimated that 2 million people become infected every year. Without treatment, leishmaniasis attacks the internal organs resulting in a 90% mortality rate.

summary

“Cristaxenicin A,” a new chemical compound with anti-Leishmania properties

application/development

The search for target molecules in the development of drugs to treat protozoan diseases, livestock drugs and other agents

predominance

Current treatments involve the use of antimony formulas, but it has side effects, and protozoans with resistance have begun to appear. Our chemical compound has a chemical structure that is completely different from traditional drugs, and it is believed to work through a totally different mechanism. It has high selective toxicity, and there are great expectations for it as an antiprotozoal drug with low toxicity.

purpose of providing seeds

Sponsord research, Collaboration research, Technical consultation

material

  • The Leishmania protozoan, equipped with GFP (photo provided courtesy of Yasuyuki Goto, Prof., The University of Tokyo)
  • The life cycle of the Leishmania protozoan (provided courtesy of Yasuyuki Goto, Prof., The University of Tokyo)
  • Cristaxenicin A
posted: 2014/05/21