Toxoplasma gondii, babesia, and other protozoan carbonic anhydrases.

Abstract

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) play an essential role in the physiology and survival of protozoan parasites. This study explores the biological functions, molecular features, and therapeutic potential of protozoan CAs, focusing on the α, β, and η classes. Emphasis is placed on the structural and functional divergences between protozoan and mammalian CAs, underscoring the opportunities for selective drug targeting. Key protozoan pathogens, including Toxoplasma gondii, Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania spp., Trichomonas vaginalis, Entamoeba histolytica and Plasmodium falciparum, are examined with respect to their CA classes, which are evaluated for their roles in parasite metabolism and as candidates for therapeutic intervention. The potential of CA inhibitors as novel antiparasitic agents was critically assessed. By integrating established findings with emerging data, this analysis offers a comprehensive framework for the strategic exploitation of protozoan CAs for the development of next generation antiparasitic therapies.