Antifungal and antiparasitic compounds

Abstract

Novel antiparasitic and antifungal compositions are disclosed. The antiparasitic and antifungal compositions are useful for human and veterinary therapy for the treatment and/or prevention of parasitic infection. Also disclosed are novel mechanisms of identifying antifungal and antiparasitic compositions by their biochemical action on lipid synthesis and/or metabolism and/or excretion.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An antiparasitic composition comprising an inhibitor of cholesterol synthesis.  
     
     
         2 . An antiparasitic composition comprising an inhibitor of cholesterol metabolism.  
     
     
         3 . An antiparasitic composition comprising an inhibitor of cholesterol excretion.  
     
     
         4 . An antiparasitic composition comprising at least one inhibitor selected from the group consisting of inhibitor of cholesterol synthesis, inhibitor of cholesterol metabolism, and inhibitor of cholesterol excretion.  
     
     
         5 . A method for treating an individual including a human with a parasitic infection comprising administering to said individual a cholesterol synthesis inhibitor in a pharmaceutically effective amount, in a pharmaceutically effective excipient.  
     
     
         6 . A method for treating an individual including a human with a parasitic infection comprising administering to said individual a cholesterol metabolism inhibitor in a pharmaceutically effective amount, in a pharmaceutically effective excipient.  
     
     
         7 . A method for treating an individual including a human with a parasitic infection comprising administering to said individual a cholesterol excretion inhibitor in a pharmaceutically effective amount, in a pharmaceutically effective excipient.  
     
     
         8 . A method for preventing parasitic infection in an animal including a human comprising administering to said animal a cholesterol synthesis inhibitor in a pharmaceutically effective amount, in a pharmaceutically effective excipient.  
     
     
         9 . A method for preventing parasitic infection in an animal including a human comprising administering to said animal a cholesterol metabolism inhibitor in a pharmaceutically effective amount, in a pharmaceutically effective excipient.  
     
     
         10 . A method for preventing parasitic infection in an animal including a human comprising administering to said animal a cholesterol excretion inhibitor in a pharmaceutically effective amount, in a pharmaceutically effective excipient.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 5  wherein said administration is selected from the group consisting of oral, topical and parenteral.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein said administration is selected from the group consisting of oral, topical and parenteral.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein said administration is selected from the group consisting of oral, topical and parenteral.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 8  wherein said administration is selected from the group consisting of oral, topical and parenteral.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein said administration is selected from the group consisting of oral, topical and parenteral.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein said administration is selected from the group consisting of oral, topical and parenteral.  
     
     
         17 . An antiparasitic composition comprising an agent which interferes with parasite cholesterol uptake.  
     
     
         18 . An antiprasitic composition comprising an inhibitory agent selected from the group consisting of inhibitors of cholesterol production in host, inhibitors of cholesterol transport to monocyte of host, inhibitors of cholesterol delivery to the parasite, inhibitors of choline production, inhibitors of HMG-COA reductase, inhibitors of squalene oxidase, inhibitors of squalene synthetase, inhibitors of 14alpha-demethylase, inhibitors of bile acids resorption, inhibitors of butyrate, anticance hormone agonists/antagonists, hypocholesteremics, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         19 . An antiparasitic composition comprising one or more hypocholesteremic.  
     
     
         20 . The antiparasitic composition of  claim 19  wherein the hypocholesteremic is beta-carotene or lycopene.  
     
     
         21 . The antiparasitic composition of  claim 19  wherein the hypocholesteremic is an estrogen agonist or antagonist.  
     
     
         22 . A method for treating an individual with a parasitic infection comprising administering to said individual an antiparasitic composition of  claim 18  in a pharmaceutically effective amount, in a pharmaceutically effective excipient.  
     
     
         23 . A method for preventing parasitic infection in an individual comprising administering to said individual an antiparasitic composition of  claim 18  in a pharmaceutically effective amount, in a pharmaceutically effective excipient.  
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 22  wherein said administration is selected from the group consisting of oral, topical, and parenteral.  
     
     
         25 . An antiparasitic composition comprising an antiparasitic effective amount of at least one compound which inhibits a parasite's cholesterol biosynthesis, metabolism, and/or excretion.  
     
     
         26 . An antiparasitic composition comprising an antiparasitic effective amount of a combination of compounds selected from the group consisting of inhibitors of cholesterol production in host, inhibitors of cholesterol transport to monocyte of host, inhibitors of cholesterol delivery to the parasite, inhibitors of choline production, inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase, inhibitors of squalene oxidase, inhibitors of squalene synthetase, inhibitors of 14alpha-demethylase, inhibitors of bile acids resorption, inhibitors of butyrate, anticance hormone agonists/antagonists, hypocholesteremics,