Chitin metabolism: a target for drugs against parasites

Chitin is an important component of the exoskeleton of arthropods and of the egg shell in nematodes, but it does not occur in vertebrates. Therefore, it represents a useful target for drugs against ectoparasitic crustaceans, insects and endoparasitic nematodes. In this review we describe the basic c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inParasitology research (1987) Vol. 76; no. 4; p. 283
Main Authors Spindler, K D, Spindler-Barth, M, Londershausen, M
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Germany 01.01.1990
Subjects
Animals
Antinematodal Agents - pharmacology
Chitin - metabolism
Crustacea - metabolism
Ecdysteroids
Ectoparasitic Infestations - drug therapy
Insecta - metabolism
Insecticides - therapeutic use
Invertebrate Hormones - physiology
Mites - metabolism
Molecular Structure
Nematoda - drug effects
Nematoda - metabolism
Parasites - drug effects
Parasites - metabolism
Parasitic Diseases - drug therapy
Ticks - metabolism
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Summary:Chitin is an important component of the exoskeleton of arthropods and of the egg shell in nematodes, but it does not occur in vertebrates. Therefore, it represents a useful target for drugs against ectoparasitic crustaceans, insects and endoparasitic nematodes. In this review we describe the basic characteristics of chitin, chitin synthesis and degradation and the hormonal regulation of chitin metabolism. Substances interfering with chitin metabolism like benzoylphenyl-urea derivatives but also some recently detected compounds are described. The necessity for a more detailed understanding of chitin metabolism and the establishment of better model systems, like e.g. chitin producing insect cell lines, is stressed and some examples are given in this review.
ISSN:0932-0113
DOI:10.1007/bf00928180