Identification and Characterization of FTY720 for the Treatment of Human African Trypanosomiasis

Amy J Jones; Marcel Kaiser; Vicky M Avery

doi:10.1128/AAC.02116-15

Identification and Characterization of FTY720 for the Treatment of Human African Trypanosomiasis

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2015 Dec 14;60(3):1859-61. doi: 10.1128/AAC.02116-15.

Authors

Amy J Jones¹, Marcel Kaiser², Vicky M Avery³

Affiliations

¹ Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia a.jones@griffith.edu.au.
² Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
³ Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Abstract

The screening of a focused library identified FTY720 (Fingolimod; Gilenya) as a potent selective antitrypanosomal compound active against Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and T. brucei rhodesiense, the causative agents of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT). This is the first report of trypanocidal activity for FTY720, an oral drug registered for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis, and the characterization of sphingolipids as a potential new class of compounds for HAT.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cell Line
Fingolimod Hydrochloride / therapeutic use*
HEK293 Cells
Humans
Parasitic Sensitivity Tests
Trypanocidal Agents / therapeutic use*
Trypanosoma brucei brucei / drug effects*
Trypanosoma brucei gambiense / drug effects*
Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense / drug effects*
Trypanosomiasis, African / drug therapy*

Substances

Trypanocidal Agents
Fingolimod Hydrochloride