Potent Inhibitors of Thioredoxin Glutathione Reductase: Grail of Anti-Schistosome Drug within Reach?

Species of the blood fluke are responsible for schistosomiasis, the second most common parasitic disease, which is prevalent particularly in poor communities. Under redox pressure, schistosomes survive in mammalian hosts with the help of thioredoxin glutathione reductase, which is an essential selenoenzyme. A recent study identified compounds with extremely potent antischistosome activity. Most importantly, certain compounds were active against all major schistosomes across different life cycle stages, where even praziquantel, the drug of choice, fails. The data offer compounds that exceed WHO standards for leads for schistosomiasis therapy activity. The work may serve as the basis for the development of new antischistosome compounds.