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Brain-Eating Amoeba Met Its Match: New Compound Kills Fast
29 Oct
Summary
- Marine bacteria compound shows potential to kill brain-eating amoeba.
- The compound halts parasite energy production, is highly selective.
- Researchers are evaluating its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.
Scientists at UC San Diego have identified a compound from marine bacteria that shows promise in combating Naegleria fowleri, the organism responsible for nearly always fatal brain infections. This compound, known as Rutamycin B, appears capable of killing the brain-eating amoeba within hours.
The research indicates that Rutamycin B works by disabling an enzyme crucial for the parasite's energy production. Notably, the compound demonstrated low toxicity to human cells and was significantly more lethal to the amoeba, offering a faster and more selective treatment option.
Naegleria fowleri causes a rare but devastating infection called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), which has a high mortality rate. Current treatment options are limited and have seen minimal success worldwide.
Researchers are now focused on evaluating Rutamycin B's capacity to cross the blood-brain barrier and its effectiveness in live disease models, paving the way for potential clinical applications.
