Drug modifications: graphene oxide-chitosan loading enhanced anti-amoebic effects of pentamidine and doxycycline.

Acanthamoeba castellanii is the causative pathogen of a severe eye infection, known as Acanthamoeba keratitis and a life-threatening brain infection, named granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. Current treatments are problematic and costly and exhibit limited efficacy against Acanthamoeba parasite, especially the cyst stage. In parallel to drug discovery and drug repurposing efforts, drug modification is also an important approach to tackle infections, especially against neglected parasites such as free-living amoebae: Acanthamoeba.

Targeting pathogenic Acanthamoeba castellanii using DNA minor groove binding agents.

DNA minor groove binders exhibit a high degree of sequence specificity and have a variety of biological actions including antiviral, anticancer, antibacterial, and anti-protozoal properties. Since it is the location of non-covalent interactions, the minor groove of double helical B-DNA is gaining significant interest as therapeutic targets. For the purpose of this investigation, the synthesis of five novel DNA minor groove binding agents was accomplished and antiparasitic efficacies were determined against Acanthamoeba castellanii of the T4 genotype in vitro.

Anti-Acanthamoebic effects of silver-conjugated tetrazole nanoparticle.

Tetrazoles are five-membered ring aromatic heterocyclic molecules that consist of one carbon and four nitrogen atoms. Several tetrazole-based drugs have shown promising activities against bacteria, fungi, asthma, cancer, hypertension etc. The overall aim of this study was to determine anti-Acanthamoebic properties of tetrazoles and tetrazole-conjugated silver nanoparticles.

Phosphonium chloride-based deep eutectic solvents inhibit pathogenic Acanthamoeba castellanii belonging to the T4 genotype.

Herein, we investigated the anti-amoebic activity of phosphonium-chloride-based deep eutectic solvents against pathogenic Acanthamoeba castellanii of the T4 genotype. Deep eutectic solvents are ionic fluids composed of two or three substances, capable of self-association to form a eutectic mixture with a melting point lower than each substance. In this study, three distinct hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents were formulated, employing trihexyltetradecylphosphonium chloride as the hydrogen bond acceptor and aspirin, dodecanoic acid, and 4-tert-butylbenzoic acid as the hydrogen bond donors.

Nanomedicine: Patuletin-conjugated with zinc oxide exhibit potent effects against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial pathogens.

With the emergence of drug-resistance, there is a need for novel anti-bacterials or to enhance the efficacy of existing drugs. In this study, Patuletin (PA), a flavanoid was loaded onto Gallic acid modified Zinc oxide nanoparticles (PA-GA-ZnO), and evaluated for antibacterial properties against Gram-positive (Bacillus cereus and Streptococcus pneumoniae) and Gram-negative (Samonella enterica and Escherichia coli) bacteria. Characterization of PA, GA-ZnO and PA-GA-ZnO' nanoparticles was accomplished utilizing fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, efficiency of drug entrapment, polydispersity index, zeta potential, size, and surface morphology analysis through atomic force microscopy.

Self-assembled micelles loaded with itraconazole as anti-Acanthamoeba nano-formulation.

Acanthamoeba castellanii are opportunistic pathogens known to cause infection of the central nervous system termed: granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, that mostly effects immunocompromised individuals, and a sight threatening keratitis, known as Acanthamoeba keratitis, which mostly affects contact lens wearers. The current treatment available is problematic, and is toxic. Herein, an amphiphilic star polymer with AB miktoarms [A = hydrophobic poly(ℇ-Caprolacton) and B = hydrophilic poly (ethylene glycol)] was synthesized by ring opening polymerization and Cu catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition.

Exposure to Species, , and Species in Recently Imported Camels from Sudan to Egypt: Possible Threats to Animal and Human Health.

Brucellosis and coxiellosis/Q fever are bacterial infections caused by species and , respectively; camels are highly susceptible to both pathogens. Trichinellosis is a parasitic infection caused by various nematode species. Reportedly, camels are susceptible to experimental infection with spp.

Cell death of Acanthamoeba castellanii following exposure to antimicrobial agents commonly included in contact lens disinfecting solutions.

Several antimicrobial agents are commonly included in contact lens disinfectant solutions including chlorhexidine diacetate (CHX), polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) or myristamidopropyl dimethylamine (MAPD); however, their mode of action, i.e. necrosis versus apoptosis is incompletely understood.

Effect of embelin on inhibition of cell growth and induction of apoptosis in Acanthamoeba castellanii.

Acanthamoeba castellanii is the causative agent of fatal encephalitis and blinding keratitis. Current therapies remain a challenge, hence there is a need to search for new therapeutics. Here, we tested embelin (EMB) and silver nanoparticles doped with embelin (EMB-AgNPs) against A.

The anti-amoebic potential of carboxamide derivatives containing sulfonyl or sulfamoyl moieties against brain-eating Naegleria fowleri.

Naegleria fowleri is a free-living thermophilic flagellate amoeba that causes a rare but life-threatening infection called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), with a very high fatality rate. Herein, the anti-amoebic potential of carboxamide derivatives possessing sulfonyl or sulfamoyl moiety was assessed against pathogenic N. fowleri using amoebicidal, cytotoxicity and cytopathogenicity assays.

Biphasic zinc compartmentalisation in a human fungal pathogen.

Nutritional immunity describes the host-driven manipulation of essential micronutrients, including iron, zinc and manganese. To withstand nutritional immunity and proliferate within their hosts, pathogenic microbes must express efficient micronutrient uptake and homeostatic systems. Here we have elucidated the pathway of cellular zinc assimilation in the major human fungal pathogen Candida albicans.