Investigating Therapeutic Potential of Beta‐Glucan on Experimental Toxoplasmosis in Immunocompetent and Immunocompromised Mice: In Silico and in Vivo Studies
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: There is a need to find efficient treatment for toxoplasmosis, a global disease with a public health concern, as the used therapeutics have limited effectiveness. Beta-glucan (β-glucan), a natural polysaccharide, has anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anti-infective activities against bacteria, viruses, and parasites. We aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of β-glucan on toxoplasmosis using an in silico study and an in vivo mice model. The β-glucan drug-likeness characteristics were evaluated by molecular docking simulations, Lipinski's RO5 filter analysis, and the computational quantitative structural-activity relationships/absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity predictive characteristics compared to spiramycin, an anti-toxoplasmosis drug. Sixty albino mice were divided into two divisions, immunocompetent and immunosuppressed. Each division contained five groups; healthy, diseased, spiramycin-treated, β-glucan-treated, and both β-glucan and spiramycin-treated groups. Parasitological, histopathological examinations, and immunological analysis were detected. β-glucan docked complexes demonstrated H-bonding and hydrophobic interactions towards their promising anti-toxoplasmosis targets compared to the spiramycin. The treated mice revealed a statistically significant reduction (p < 0.001) in the parasite burden. Regarding immunocompetent and immunosuppressed division, the group that was treated with both β-glucan and spiramycin, demonstrated the greatest outcomes, with 71% and 66% efficacy, respectively. It is concluded that β-glucan shows promising potential as an anti-toxoplasmosis candidate by potentiating the spiramycin effect and modulating the immunological response.
Source: Chemistry & Biodiversity
Authors: Asmaa A. Aboul‐Fotouh, Faten A. Elfeky, Nahed R. Omar, Tarek Aboushousha, Eman S. El‐Wakil
Institutions: Al-Azhar University, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute
Language: English
Subfield: Parasitology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4409234193