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- Title
Ketamine can be produced by Pochonia chlamydosporia: an old molecule and a new anthelmintic?
- Authors
Ferreira, Sebastiao Rodrigo; Machado, Alan Rodrigues T.; Furtado, Luís Fernando; Gomes, Jose Hugo de S.; de Almeida, Raquel M.; de Oliveira Mendes, Thiago; Maciel, Valentina N.; Barbosa, Fernando Sergio; Carvalho, Lorendane M.; Bueno, Lilian Lacerda; Bartholomeu, Daniella Castanheira; de Araújo, Jackson Victor; Rabelo, Elida M. L.; de Pádua, Rodrigo Maia; Pimenta, Lucia Pinheiro Santos; Fujiwara, Ricardo Toshio
- Abstract
Background: Infection by nematodes is a problem for human health, livestock, and agriculture, as it causes deficits in host health, increases production costs, and incurs a reduced food supply. The control of these parasites is usually done using anthelmintics, which, in most cases, have not been fully effective. Therefore, the search for new molecules with anthelmintic potential is necessary. Methods: In the present study, we isolated and characterized molecules from the nematophagous fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia and tested these compounds on three nematodes: Caenorhabditis elegans; Ancylostoma ceylanicum; and Ascaris suum. Results: The ethyl acetate extract showed nematicidal activity on the nematode model C. elegans. We identified the major substance present in two sub-fractions of this extract as ketamine. Then, we tested this compound on C. elegans and the parasites A. ceylanicum and A. suum using hamsters and mice as hosts, respectively. We did not find a difference between the animal groups when considering the number of worms recovered from the intestines of animals treated with ketamine (6 mg) and albendazole (P > 0.05). The parasite burden of larvae recovered from the lungs of mice treated with ketamine was similar to those treated with ivermectin. Conclusions: The results presented here demonstrate the nematicidal activity of ketamine in vitro and in vivo, thus confirming the nematicidal potential of the molecule present in the fungus P. chlamydosporia may consist of a new method of controlling parasites.
- Subjects
KETAMINE; ASCARIS suum; ANTHELMINTICS; CAENORHABDITIS elegans; NEMATODE-destroying fungi; ETHYL acetate; MOLECULES
- Publication
Parasites & Vectors, 2020, Vol 13, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
1756-3305
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1186/s13071-020-04402-w