Article
Electron microscopy in antiparasitic chemotherapy: a (close) view to a kill
Registro en:
SANTOS, M. A. V. dos; CASTRO, S. L. de. Electron microscopy in antiparasitic chemotherapy: a (close) view to a kill. Current Drug Target, v. 10, n. 3, p. 246-260, 2009.
13894501
10.2174/138945009787581168
Autor
Santos, Marcos André Vannier dos
Castro, Solange Lisboa de
Resumen
Electron microscopy may be useful in chemotherapy studies at distinct levels, such as the identification of subcellular
targets in the parasites and the elucidation of the ultimate drug mechanism of action, inferred by the alterations induced
by antiparasitic compounds. In this review we present data obtained by electron microscopy approaches of different
parasitic protozoa, such as Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania spp., Giardia lamblia and trichomonads, under the action of
drugs, demonstrating that the cell architecture organization is only determined in detail at the ultrastructural level. The
transmission electron microscopy may shed light (i.e. electrons) not only on the affected compartment, but also on the
manner it is altered, which may indicate presumable target metabolic pathways as well as the actual toxic or lethal effects
of a drug. Cytochemical and analytical techniques can provide valuable information on the composition of the altered cell
compartment, permitting the bona fide identification of the drug target and a detailed understanding of the mechanism underneath
its effect. Scanning electron microscopy permits the recognition of the drug-induced alterations on parasite surface
and topography. Such observations may reveal cytokinetic dysfunctions or membrane lesions not detected by other
approaches. In this context, electron microscopy techniques comprise valuable tools in chemotherapy studies