Methods of treating giardiasis

Inventors

Zheng, WeiChen, CatherineMarugan, Juan JoseSouthall, NoelAustin, Christopher P.Galkin, AndreyKulakova, LiudmilaHerzberg, Osnat

Assignees

University of Maryland College ParkUS Department of Health and Human Services

Publication Number

US-9173898-B2

Publication Date

2015-11-03

Expiration Date

2031-10-12

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Abstract

Compounds useful for the treatment of giardiasis are described.

Core Innovation

The invention is directed to compounds and methods for the treatment of giardiasis by administering a therapeutically effective amount of certain compounds that exhibit anti-Giardia activity. The compounds include fumagillin, bortezomib, acivicin, nitarsone, decitabine, and several others, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt forms thereof. The invention also includes methods of identifying compounds that act against Giardia lamblia and can be used for treating giardiasis.

The problem being solved is that Giardia lamblia causes giardiasis, a common diarrheal disease worldwide, and despite available drugs, there is reported drug resistance with increasing likelihood and frequent recurrent infections. Therefore, there is a need to identify additional compounds useful for treating giardiasis, which this invention addresses by providing novel compounds with anti-Giardia activity.

Claims Coverage

There is one independent claim in the patent, which covers a method of treating giardiasis using a specified compound.

Method of treating giardiasis using auranofin or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt

A therapeutic method comprising administering to a patient suffering from giardiasis a therapeutically effective amount of auranofin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt form of auranofin.

The claim specifically covers the use of the compound auranofin, or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, as a therapeutic agent for treating giardiasis in patients.

Stated Advantages

Compounds discovered exhibit selective anti-Giardia activity useful for treating giardiasis in humans and other mammals, including domestic animals.

The invention provides a robust, miniaturized ATP content assay suitable for high throughput screening to identify anti-Giardia compounds.

The screened compounds demonstrated selectivity towards Giardia over mammalian cells, minimizing cytotoxic effects.

Documented Applications

Treatment of giardiasis in humans.

Treatment of giardiasis in other mammals, including domestic animals such as cats and dogs.

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