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Metronidazole and the Redox Biochemistry of Entamoeba histolytica

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Amebiasis

Abstract

Metronidazole remains the gold standard drug for treatment for Entamoeba histolytica infections. In the introduction of this chapter, the drug is described: its history, its major uses, and some concerns raised about its genotoxicity in the past. Even a short introduction shows that the activity of metronidazole is closely linked with the redox metabolism of its target organisms. Thus, in the first section, the metabolism of E. histolytica under microaerophilic conditions is described. The second section reviews the thiol-containing antioxidant systems of E. histolytica in comparison to other organisms. The third part considers how E. histolytica can handle and inactivate molecular oxygen and more reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. In the fourth part, the activity of metronidazole is discussed in the light of the redox metabolism of E. histolytica. The fifth part addresses the prospects of metronidazole resistance, and the chapter ends with a final section on perspectives, where we stand, and some of the unresolved questions.

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Abbreviations

DPI:

Diphenyleneiodonium

DTNB:

5,5′-Dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid)

DTT:

Dithiothreitol

FDP:

Flavin diiron protein

PFOR:

Pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase

SAT:

Serine acetyl transferase

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  1. Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Michael Duchêne

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  1. Michael Duchêne
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Correspondence to Michael Duchêne .

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  1. Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    Tomoyoshi Nozaki

  2. Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

    Alok Bhattacharya

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Duchêne, M. (2015). Metronidazole and the Redox Biochemistry of Entamoeba histolytica . In: Nozaki, T., Bhattacharya, A. (eds) Amebiasis. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-55200-0_30

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