The Open Parasitology Journal

2010, 4 : 178-187
Published online 2010 December 10. DOI: 10.2174/1874421401004010178
Publisher ID: TOPARAJ-4-178

RESEARCH ARTICLE
 Contributions of Ultrastructural Studies to the Cell Biology of Trypanosmatids: Targets for Anti-Parasitic Drugs

Camila Marques Adade C. Almeida and Thaïs Souto-Padrón, *
Laboratório de Ultraestrutura e Biologia Celular, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CCS, Bloco I, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373, Ilha do Fundão, 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

* Address correspondence to this author at the Laboratório de Ultraestrutura e Biologia Celular, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidadec Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CCS, Bloco I, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373, Ilha do Fundão, 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Tel: 55-21-2562-6738; Fax: 55-21-2560-8344; E-mail: souto.padron@micro.ufrj.br

ABSTRACT

Protozoan parasites cause disease in humans worldwide, and many fall into the genera Trypanosoma and Leishmania; these parasites are responsible for African trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease and the different forms of Leishmaniasis. Strategies for the development of new drugs against these protozoans have been based on their cell biology and biochemistry complemented by the use of electron microscopy. Trypanosoma and Leishmania have special organelles that are involved in metabolic pathways, which are very distinct from those in mammalian cells; these organelles are potential drug targets. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy can identify not only the target organelles but also alterations to the cell surface and ultrastructural changes that characterize distinct forms of programmed cell death.

Keywords:

, , African trypanosomes, Chemotherapy, Ultrastructure.