Optimization of a Fluorescence-Based Assay for Large-Scale Drug Screening against Babesia and Theileria Parasites

PLoS One. 2015 Apr 27;10(4):e0125276. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125276. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

A rapid and accurate assay for evaluating antibabesial drugs on a large scale is required for the discovery of novel chemotherapeutic agents against Babesia parasites. In the current study, we evaluated the usefulness of a fluorescence-based assay for determining the efficacies of antibabesial compounds against bovine and equine hemoparasites in in vitro cultures. Three different hematocrits (HCTs; 2.5%, 5%, and 10%) were used without daily replacement of the medium. The results of a high-throughput screening assay revealed that the best HCT was 2.5% for bovine Babesia parasites and 5% for equine Babesia and Theileria parasites. The IC50 values of diminazene aceturate obtained by fluorescence and microscopy did not differ significantly. Likewise, the IC50 values of luteolin, pyronaridine tetraphosphate, nimbolide, gedunin, and enoxacin did not differ between the two methods. In conclusion, our fluorescence-based assay uses low HCT and does not require daily replacement of culture medium, making it highly suitable for in vitro large-scale drug screening against Babesia and Theileria parasites that infect cattle and horses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiparasitic Agents / chemistry
  • Antiparasitic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Babesia / drug effects*
  • Babesia / growth & development
  • Cattle / parasitology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods*
  • Hematocrit
  • Horses / parasitology
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Theileria / drug effects*
  • Theileria / growth & development

Substances

  • Antiparasitic Agents

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the Ministry of Higher Education Egypt, the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, Japan.