DT News - UK - Toothpaste ingredient triclosan may help fight drug-resistant malaria

Dental Tribune International

Mon. 29 January 2018

save

MANCHESTER/CAMBRIDGE, UK: Over half a million deaths per year result from malaria, caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium, and with increasing resistance to all existing drugs, there is an urgent need to develop new medication. Approximately 90 per cent of these deaths are due to Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for the most severe forms of the disease. Researchers have now investigated triclosan—a simple antimicrobial agent commonly found in toothpastes—as a potential antimalarial substance.

Upon biting someone, a mosquito infected with malaria parasites transfers the parasites into the bloodstream via its saliva. These parasites travel to the liver, where they mature and reproduce, and later leave the liver and hijack red blood cells, where they continue to multiply, spreading around the body.

Triclosan in toothpaste prevents the build-up of plaque bacteria by inhibiting the action of an enzyme known as enoyl reductase (ENR), which is involved in the production of fatty acids. Triclosan and its analogues have been repeatedly shown to inhibit the growth of blood-stage P. falciparum in culture, and it was assumed that triclosan was targeting ENR, which is found in the liver. However, subsequent work showed that improving triclosan’s ability to target ENR had no effect on parasite growth in the blood.

Using “Eve”, an artificially intelligent “robot scientist” based at the University of Manchester’s School of Computer Science, the researchers, from the University of Cambridge, discovered that triclosan affects parasite growth by specifically inhibiting an enzyme of the malaria parasite, called dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR).

In a statement released by the University of Manchester, lead author Dr Elizabeth Bilsland said: “The discovery by our robot ‘colleague’ Eve that triclosan is effective against malaria targets offers hope that we may be able to use it to develop a new drug. We know it is a safe compound, and its ability to target two points in the malaria parasite’s lifecycle means the parasite will find it difficult to evolve resistance.”

DHFR is the target of a well-established antimalarial drug, pyrimethamine; however, resistance to the drug among malaria parasites is common, particularly in Africa. The Cambridge team showed that triclosan was able to target and act on this enzyme even in pyrimethamine-resistant parasites.

The study, titled “Plasmodium dihydrofolate reductase is a second enzyme target for the antimalarial action of triclosan”, was published in the Scientific Reports journal on 18 January 2018.

Tags:

To post a reply please login or register

Award-winning seaweed drug helps fight disease

CARDIFF, UK: Together with Norwegian biopharmaceutical company AlgiPharma, researchers at Cardiff University have been working on new drugs to combat ...

Natural plant chemicals could help fight tooth decay

EDINBURGH, UK: A study by researchers at the University of Edinburgh has shown that a natural chemical related to those found in liquorice root could help ...

Study finds chewing gum could help fight dental caries

LONDON, UK: Though the relative benefits of chewing gum are often subject to debate, a number of studies have shown that the sugar-free varieties can ...

Common diabetes drug could treat periodontal disease and help with healthy ageing, study claims

A new method of controlling inflammation and sugar levels for oral and systemic disease prevention using a common diabetes drug has been discovered by a ...

Growth lines of primary teeth may help evaluate risk of developing mental disorders

BRISTOL, UK/BOSTON, US: The thickness of growth marks in primary teeth may help identify children at risk for depression and other mental health disorders ...

“Aligners have shortcomings, but using the right aligner foam helps”

The advent of clear aligners, digital scanners, 3D printing and artificial intelligence is transforming orthodontics. These technologies offer patients a ...

Help on the way for unregistered dental patients in Scotland

DUMFRIES, Scotland: After years of governmental neglect, the UK is now in the middle of a public dental health crisis. Caused mainly by underfunding and ...

Hair-derived keratin toothpaste: A natural enamel repair revolution

LONDON, England: A pioneering study from King’s College London has revealed that keratin—sourced from human hair or wool—can form a crystalline ...

UK takes steps towards sustainability through recyclable toothpaste tubes

BANBURY, England: Traditional toothpaste tubes present environmental and practical challenges because they are often excluded from standard recycling ...

Research suggests UK government can help dentists help hungry patients

More than 11 million people in the United Kingdom, have reported food insecurity over a 12 month period according to The Trussel Trust. Dental clinicians ...

Education

On-demand
webinar

Reaching new levels in bone augmentation using Sculptoss^® Individulized ceramic membrane and GTO^®

Dr. Jonas Anderud Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Halmstad, Sweden – Department of Biomaterials, Gothenburg University, Sweden

Dr. Johan Malmström Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Halmstad, Sweden – Department of Biomaterials, Gothenburg University, Sweden – Brånemark Clinic Gothenburg, Sweden, Dr. Jonas Anderud Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Halmstad, Sweden – Department of Biomaterials, Gothenburg University, Sweden

Watch recording

1CE

On-demand
webinar