Entamoeba histolytica carbonic anhydrase.

Abstract

Amoebiasis, caused by Entamoeba histolytica, remains a major public health issue, particularly in developing countries with poor sanitation. It is also a significant challenge among those who travel to endemic areas, causing, in many cases, so-called traveler diarrhea. Approximately 10 percent of the global population is estimated to be affected by this parasitic infection. The primary route of transmission is the consumption of food or water contaminated with E. histolytica cysts. While most infected individuals may remain asymptomatic, some develop severe complications, including hemorrhagic colitis, liver abscesses, and, in extreme cases, colonic perforation. It has been estimated that amoebiasis is responsible for nearly 100,000 deaths annually. Standard treatment for amoebic colitis involves a combination of luminal agents (such as paromomycin, diloxanide furoate, and diiodohydroxyquin) and tissue amoebicides (including metronidazole and tinidazole). Although these treatments are effective, new therapeutic options to improve patient outcomes are needed. One promising avenue for drug discovery is the β-carbonic anhydrase enzyme (EhiCA) of E. histolytica, which has emerged as a potential target for novel antiamoebic therapies. EhiCA was recently produced as a recombinant protein and has been used in kinetic and inhibition studies with various sulfonamides and anions, with promising results.