trans

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FIGURE 17.2 Effects of praziquantel (1 M) on adult male schistosome (6–8 week infections) in B (control A)
by transmission electron microscopy. Praziquantel resulted in the formation of vacuoles and disruption of the
spines. Incubation was for 1 h. OM outer member; T tegument; S spine; M muscle. (Kindly provided by
David P. Thompson, Ph.D., Pharmacia & Upjohn, Inc., Kalamazoo, MI.)
are needed, along with the development of
therapeutic approaches that would further
minimize the inflammatory response elicited
by released cyst antigens.
The treatment of echinococcosis remains
poor. Albendazole or mebendazole cure less
than half of the cases, and praziquantel is
not effective. Surgical resection or percutaneous
or laparoscopic aspiration and instillation
of a scolacidal agent currently provide
the best opportunity for cure. A better understanding
of the biochemistry and cell biology
of echinococcal cysts is needed for the
development of new approaches to chemotherapy.
CONCLUSION
The past two decades have seen unprecedented
advances in understanding the molecular
biology and biochemistry of the major
human parasites. The opportunities for
identification of new molecular targets and
the synthesis of compounds that have activity
against them are unprecedented and offer
great hope for the future. As the genomes of
the parasites are sequenced new targets will
almost certainly be identified, and inhibitors
synthesized. Microarray technology offers the
potential for mass screening of compounds on
a scale once unimaginable.
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