Morpholines such as tridemorph (9.112) attack sterol biosynthesis via ∆^14 -reductase
enzyme inhibition and are valuable agricultural fungicides.
9.6 Drug Design Targeting Parasites
Although any microbe that infects a human (virus, bacteria, fungus, etc.) could theo-
retically be considered to be a parasite, the term parasite tends to be reserved for three
types of infectious agents: protozoa, helminths, and arthropods. These may be subdivided
as follows:
A. Protozoa (unicellular forms)
a. Mastigophora (flagellates)
Giardia (causing giardiasis—cramps, diarrhea, nausea)
Trichomonas (causing trichomoniasis—painful urination, vaginal discharge)
Leishmania(causing leishmaniasis—“black fever,” gastrointestinal bleeding)
Trypanosoma (causing Chaga’s disease—malaise, fever, heart failure)
b. Sarcodina (ameboids)
Entamoeba(causing amebiasis—potentially life-threatening dysentery)
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