Skip to main content
PMC home page
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy logoLink to Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
. 1989 Mar;33(3):404–405. doi: 10.1128/aac.33.3.404

Antibacterial activities of the antiparasitic drugs nifurtimox and benznidazole.

H Hof 1
PMCID: PMC171504  PMID: 2729935

Abstract

Both nifurtimox and benznidazole, which are used for the treatment of Chagas' disease, also display marked antibacterial activities. Characteristically for nitroheterocyclic compounds, they are much more active against anaerobic and microaerophilic bacteria than against aerobic bacteria. Nitroreductase-deficient aerobes are completely resistant, whereas SOS-repair-deficient strains are moderately susceptible. Those strains are rapidly killed.

Full text

PDF
404

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Andrews P. J., Quilliam M. A., McCarry B. E., Bryant D. W., McCalla D. R. Identification of the DNA adduct formed by metabolism of 1,8-dinitropyrene in Salmonella typhimurium. Carcinogenesis. 1986 Jan;7(1):105–110. doi: 10.1093/carcin/7.1.105. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Angermaier L., Simon H. On nitroaryl reductase activities in several Clostridia. Hoppe Seylers Z Physiol Chem. 1983 Dec;364(12):1653–1663. doi: 10.1515/bchm2.1983.364.2.1653. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Brisseau J. M., Cebron J. P., Petit T., Marjolet M., Cuilliere P., Godin J., Grolleau J. Y. Chagas' myocarditis imported into France. Lancet. 1988 May 7;1(8593):1046–1046. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(88)91859-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. DUREL P., ROIRON V., SIBOULET A., BOREL L. J. Systemic treatment of human trichomoniasis with a derivative of nitro-imidazole, 8823 RP. Br J Vener Dis. 1960 Mar;36:21–26. doi: 10.1136/sti.36.1.21. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Füzi M., Csukás Z. Das antibakterielle Wirkungsspektrum des Metronidazols. Zentralbl Bakteriol Orig. 1970;213(2):258–262. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Goldman P. The development of 5-nitroimidazoles for the treatment and prophylaxis of anaerobic bacterial infections. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1982 Aug;10 (Suppl A):23–33. doi: 10.1093/jac/10.suppl_a.23. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Grunberg E., Titsworth E. H. Chemotherapeutic properties of heterocyclic compounds: monocyclic compounds with five-membered rings. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1973;27:317–346. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.27.100173.001533. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Hamilton-Miller J. M., Brumfitt W. The versatility of nitro compounds. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1976 Mar;2(1):5–8. doi: 10.1093/jac/2.1.5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Hof H., Chakraborty T., Royer R., Buisson J. P. Mode of action of nitro-heterocyclic compounds on Escherichia coli. Drugs Exp Clin Res. 1987;13(10):635–639. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Hof H., Sticht-Groh V., Müller K. M. Comparative in vitro activities of niridazole and metronidazole against anaerobic and microaerophilic bacteria. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1982 Aug;22(2):332–333. doi: 10.1128/aac.22.2.332. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Hof H., Ströder J., Buisson J. P., Royer R. Effect of different nitroheterocyclic compounds on aerobic, microaerophilic, and anaerobic bacteria. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1986 Nov;30(5):679–683. doi: 10.1128/aac.30.5.679. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES