A new USAL and IBSAL study shows that certain dyes can eliminate intestinal parasites such as Strongyloides.
A group of researchers from the University of Salamanca (USAL) and the Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL) has identified how certain dyes can be effective in the elimination of the parasite that causes strongyloidiasis, a disease that affects millions of people in tropical areas.
The parasite has been shown to be resistant to conventional treatments, but this study has found that dyes such as methylene blue and fuchsin effectively penetrate the larvae, killing them. This represents a breakthrough towards new anti-parasitic treatments.
In experiments, the researchers observed that positively charged dyes are more effective at penetrating the parasite cuticle. In addition, some of these compounds showed levels of efficacy comparable to current drugs. However, a remaining challenge is to improve the durability of the dyes in the body, as they are rapidly eliminated.
This finding opens new avenues for the development of more effective antiparasitic drugs and could represent a solution in the fight against resistance to current treatments.
Marín M, Sánchez-Montejo J, Ramos S, Muro A, López-Abán J, Peláez R. Deciphering Chemical Rules for Drug Penetration into Strongyloides. Pharmaceutics. 2024 Sep 19;16(9):1224. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16091224. PMID: 39339260; PMCID: PMC11434980.
