Trichomonas vaginalis carbonic anhydrase.

Abstract

Trichomoniasis is the most common sexually transmitted infection. It is caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. Nitroimidazoles, particularly metronidazole and tinidazole, have been the main treatment options for decades. They still remain the standard treatment, and resistance to them is relatively rare. However, cases of resistance do occur, and the side effects can be significant. This highlights the urgent need for new drugs with different mechanisms of action. Promisingly, several innovative leads have emerged. Interesting drug targets in T. vaginalis include two β-carbonic anhydrases, which have been recently described. These enzymes have been characterized in terms of their structural and kinetic properties, and potential inhibitors have been identified. This new knowledge on β-carbonic anhydrases offers hope for the development of novel antitrichomonal agents to effectively combat this parasitic disease in the future.