Anti-Parasitic Activity of Auranofin Against Pathogenic Naegleria fowleri.

We report that the gold containing anti-rheumatoid drug auranofin is amoebicidal against human pathogenic Naegleria fowleri. Treatment of N. fowleri cultures at biologically relevant concentrations of 0.75 μg/ml to 3.0 μg/ml auranofin reduced amoeba counts, metabolic activity and increased cell permeability. These results suggest that the addition of auranofin may benefit the treatment of N. fowleri infected patients afflicted by the rapidly fatal disease primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.