[{"id":27,"title":"Repurposing antipsychotic and sleep disorder drugs as anti-parasitics","sha":"60ce1d1ca8e506beecdcbbf186d38766","user_id":51,"state":"published","body":"Antipsychotic and sleep disorder drugs represent a rapidly growing, global market [(1)](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21476952).  Novel drugs targeting melatonin [(2)](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=PMID%3A+20577266), serotonin [(3)](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23757185), dopamine [(4)](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=PMID%3A+19909227), and GABA [(5)](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24357084) receptors are being developed.  Historically, related compounds have been identified as demonstrating activity against flatworms and the model nematode _Caenorhabditis elegans_, but nothing has been done to reconcile the recent growing diversity of chemical derivatives with potential activity against parasitic worms [(6)](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25516827).\r\n\r\nMelatonin is a well-known regulator of circadian rhythms in mammals, and Prazosin, an agonist of the mammalian melatonin 3 receptor, triggers various defects in _C. elegans_ [(7)](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=PMID%3A+17573073).  Melatonin has also been shown to promote protective effects in mice infected with _Schistosoma mansoni_ [(8)](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11841922).\r\n\r\nIvermectin is a potent anti-parasitic which agonizes GABA receptors, causing flaccid paralysis and parasite death.  Benzodiazepine and non-benzodiazepine GABA receptor agonists could therefore prove effective anthelmintics.  Ivermectin exposure has also been found to enhance binding of certain benzodiazepine-derivatives in rats [(9)]( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=PMID%3A+6319606) providing some rationale for exploring combinatorial therapies.  Benzodiazepine derivatives have historically proven effective as anti-schistosomals [(10)]( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=PMID%3A+714190), providing further evidence of anti-parasitic efficacy within the family.\r\n\r\nSerotonin impacts motility and carbohydrate metabolism in flatworms [(11)]( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=PMID%3A+156397), and nematodes [(12)]( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=PMID%3A+6805073).  Dopamine impacts various behaviours in nematodes [(13)]( http://www.wormbook.org/chapters/www_monoamines/monoamines.html), and reduces motility in flatworms [(14)]( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Ribeiro+et+al.+(2005)+Parasitology+131%3A+S19-40).\r\n","created_at":"2015-02-12T13:46:24.474Z","updated_at":"2019-11-20T09:39:50.363Z","zenodo_id":22093,"doi":"http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15066","subject":null,"tags":["nematode","flatworm","sleep","serotonin","gaba","melatonin","dopamine","parasite","drugs","antipsychotic","anthelmintic"],"vote_count":11,"view_count":1,"score":11.1,"deleted":false,"muted":false,"tweeted":false,"attachment_file_name":null,"attachment_content_type":null,"attachment_file_size":null,"attachment_updated_at":null},{"id":191,"title":"Developed microbial communities in biofilm mode: the key for reinstating degraded ecosystems","sha":"544268b97815e94eb18a26e925a7f697","user_id":null,"state":"published","body":"In conventional scientific approaches, degraded ecosystems (e.g. conventional agroecosystems due to tillage and high doses of chemical inputs) are attempted to be revived mainly through nutrients, organic matter and water management. However, they do not provide a complete answer to the issue of sustainability of the ecosystems. It is now reported that sustainability of the ecosystems is an outcome of chemical signaling in the food web, in which microbes have got the central role to play (Seneviratne, 2015). Now, it is also known that developed microbial communities in biofilm mode and their exudates contribute more than their monoculture microbes in reinstating sustainability of the degraded ecosystems through increased biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.\r\n\r\nThe same concept can be applied to human body ecosystem. It is reported that the intake of antimicrobials like antibiotics is harmful to the human health. Sometimes, people use Probiotics after intake of antibiotics. They are mixtures of beneficial gut bacteria, but not in biofilm mode. Thus, in future medicines, developed microbial communities in biofilm mode and their exudates should be adopted for treating ailments. Then, they would help increase native biodiversity of gut bacteria, thus resulting in enhanced functioning of human body ecosystem for a healthy life.\r\n","created_at":"2015-07-15T14:05:09.570Z","updated_at":"2015-07-21T06:00:28.480Z","zenodo_id":37770,"doi":"http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20739","subject":null,"tags":["microbiology","illness","sustainability","antibiotics","drugs","crop productivity"],"vote_count":0,"view_count":1,"score":0.1,"deleted":false,"muted":false,"tweeted":true,"attachment_file_name":null,"attachment_content_type":null,"attachment_file_size":null,"attachment_updated_at":null}]