Navigation Links
Scripps research team reveals how an old drug could have a new use for treating river blindness
Date:2/9/2010

ng tissue, including that of the eye. Currently, the only drug available for mass treatment of river blindness is ivermectin, and it now appears that resistance to that drug is emerging.

This creates a critical need to identify new drug targets and agents that can effectively treat the disease.

Building on Recent Discoveries

The current study builds on recent research that has implicated chitin metabolism in the larval development of the parasite O. volvulus.

Chitin is the protective outer covering that forms part of O. volvulus's outer cuticle. While knowledge of chitin biosynthesis in nematodes is limited, scientists do know that two classes of enzymes are critical for maintenance of the pathwaychitin synthases and chitinases, digestive enzymes that break down glycosidic bonds in chitin. The dynamic synthesis and degradation of chitin by these enzymes is a prerequisite for the organism's development and therefore a potential drug target.

Researchers in the field had recently identified and characterized one interesting chitinase from O. volvulus, OvCHT1. Although OvCHT1's exact metabolic role is not known, it was found to be expressed only in the infective L3 larvae and to have potential involvement in host transmission, molting, and important developmental processes in the parasite. Immunoelectron microscopy analysis detected chitinase in the pharyngeal glands of O. volvulus, structures that may contain a wide variety of proteins essential for the remodeling processes during molting and the shedding of the old cuticle.

"Therefore, we focused on these enzymes," Gloeckner says, "and reasoned that inhibiting them may eliminate onchocerciasis."

To test these enzyme candidates, Gloeckner, Janda and their colleagues used the Johns Hopkins clinical compound librarywhich contains 1,514 compounds, of which 1,082 are U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approve
'/>"/>

Contact: Keith McKeown
kmckeown@scripps.edu
858-784-8134
Scripps Research Institute
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3 4

Related biology news :

1. Scripps Research scientists find two compounds that lay the foundation for a new class of AIDS drug
2. Scripps Research scientists create new way to screen libraries of 10 million or more compounds
3. Scripps Research team wins global race to achieve landmark synthesis of perplexing natural product
4. Scripps Florida scientists show lifeless prions capable of evolutionary change and adaptation
5. Scripps research team develops technique to determine ethnic origin of stem cell lines
6. Scripps Research scientists crack mystery of proteins dual function
7. Scripps Research team uncovers chemical basis for extra quality control in protein production
8. Scripps research scientists find new link between insulin and core body temperature
9. Scripps-led study shows ocean health plays vital role in coral reef recovery
10. Scripps Research scientists observe human neurodegenerative disorder in fruit flies
11. Scripps studies offer new picture of Lake Tahoes earthquake potential
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:6/18/2013)... are expecting a very large "dead zone" in the ... level in the Chesapeake Bay this year, based on ... University of Michigan, Louisiana State University, and the ... Gulf of Mexico hypoxic "dead" zone will be between ... among the ten largest recorded. That would range from ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... Bethesda, MD, June 18, 2013: The Association for Molecular ... Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) on ... for membership on June 3, 2013. , The ... individuals and share a common vision for the advancement ... "Basic biomedical and translational research is more important now ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... team of internationally recognized feline experts including veterinarians and ... University of Lincoln, U.K. and Dr Ilona Rodan, Director ... the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) and the ... for veterinarians, owners and those working with cats on ... cat. The new guidelines appear in the Journal ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):NOAA, partners predict possible record-setting deadzone for Gulf of Mexico 2NOAA, partners predict possible record-setting deadzone for Gulf of Mexico 3NOAA, partners predict possible record-setting deadzone for Gulf of Mexico 4Feline behavior experts release guidelines to improve the welfare of cats 2
... Two new studies present evidence that the virus causing severe ... just through direct contact with contaminated water droplets as previous ... air in a patient's room during the 2003 outbreak in ... of Infectious Diseases. Another study, from Hong Kong, shows patients ...
... paleontologists states that when dinosaurs died and became ... essentially transformed into "rocks" through a gradual replacement ... by a North Carolina State University paleontologist, however, ... Dr. Mary Schweitzer, assistant professor of paleontology with ...
... harness the energy of ATP (or GTP, a related ... examples of motors include myosin and dynein, proteins that ... of actin or tubulin proteins. The ATP-dependent assembly of ... motor: for instance, the march of white blood cells ...
Cached Biology News:New studies suggest airborne SARS transmission is possible 2NC State scientist finds soft tissue in T. rex bones 2DNA Recombination and Repair—A New Twist to RecA Function 2
(Date:6/19/2013)... Miami, FL (PRWEB) June 19, 2013 An ... shed light on the increasing number of uses for probiotics. ... have probiotic qualities, and the associate benefits may beeb listed, ... health, reducing inflammation, and helping clear skin conditions. While the ... News shed light on the the uses of these “miracle” ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... June 19, 2013 ... announced the addition of the "Global ... report to their offering. ... of data protection and old security practises ... have driven the growth of biometric technologies ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... ROCKVILLE, Md. , June 19, 2013 Synthetic ... on the prevention and treatment of serious infectious diseases, announced ... the 6 th Annual OneMedForum New York Conference on ... New York City . Mr. Riley is scheduled ... live webcast of Synthetic Biologics, presentation can be accessed by ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... BREA, Calif. , June 19, 2013  Continuing ... of myocardial infarction (MI), Beckman Coulter , Inc. ... clearance of its new Access AccuTnI+3 troponin I assay ... "Clinicians have depended on Beckman Coulter,s ... the new AccuTnI+3 assay has the proven performance to ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Natural Acne Remedy, Probiotic Action Explains the Science behind Using Probiotics for Better Health 2Global Biometric Systems Market Forecast Report - Opportunities to 2018 2Global Biometric Systems Market Forecast Report - Opportunities to 2018 3Synthetic Biologics to Present at OneMedForum New York 2013 2Beckman Coulter Announces FDA Clearance of New Access AccuTnI+3 Troponin I Assay for the Access 2 Immunoassay System 2Beckman Coulter Announces FDA Clearance of New Access AccuTnI+3 Troponin I Assay for the Access 2 Immunoassay System 3
... three months until DEMO 2006, the screening and selection process ... A bit more than one-third of the class has been ... more applications to bring the total number of new products ... point in the process, I begin to get a sense ...
... Inc., a global provider of enterprise information quality solutions, ... document management solutions company based in Connecticut, have verbally ... expires November 15, concluding Pitney's planned acquisition of Firstlogic. ... 1. After a review of a Second Request for ...
... banging the drum for business alignment for several years now. ... dancing in and out of conference rooms across America? , ... the emergence of the hybrid CIO. One of the most ... a part of the business unrelated to IT. I have ...
Cached Biology Technology:DEMO 2006: A sea change is coming 2DEMO 2006: A sea change is coming 3Now comes the hybrid CIO 2Now comes the hybrid CIO 3
... 96-well semi-skirted PCR plate, Directly compatible ... sequencers, Flat deck for improved sealing characteristics ... adhesive seals, mats or cap strips, Certified ... DNA We are part of Thermo Fisher ...
Vented Caps for 75 cm2 Flasks...
BD Falcon Center-well 60 mm In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Dish, nonembryotoxic, noncytotoxic, tissue-culture treated polystyrene. (20/sp, 500/ca) Packaging: 20 / sleeve, 500 / case ...
Gelatin 100 mm Culture Dishes...
Biology Products: