Investigating Novel Chemotherapeutics Against the Parasite Toxoplasma gondii

Author

Braydon DreherFollow

Month/Year of Graduation

5-2023

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Biomedical Biology (BTCHBS)

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Paul H. Davis, PhD

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular protozoan, is a globally prevalent parasite due to the infectivity of T. gondii with nearly 2.5 billion people affected worldwide. Toxoplasma gondii can cause toxoplasmosis, which is a disease acquired through the consumption of undercooked meat or found in the feces of felines, and often leads to profound neuropathology and potentially death. Currently, acute toxoplasmosis is treated with pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, which is a combination of an antiprotozoal and a sulfonamide. This combination of drugs directly targets the acute stage of infection but has failed to eliminate or impact the chronic carriage of bradyzoites while research indicates several clonal strains of T. gondii are becoming increasingly resistant, leading to a greater need in evaluating experimental compounds for their anti-toxoplasmic and cytotoxic activity. With high-throughput screening, in vitro data suggests that numerous drug-like compounds are more effective and far less toxic as compared to pyrimethamine leading to these compounds being high priority candidates for in vivo development. Data suggests that these experimental drugs may have the capacity to provide promising therapeutics in a desperate time of drug discovery.

Recommended Citation

Dreher, Braydon, "Investigating Novel Chemotherapeutics Against the Parasite Toxoplasma gondii" (2023). Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects. 255.
https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/university_honors_program/255