Metallopeptidases as Key Virulence Attributes of Clinically Relevant Protozoa: New Discoveries, Perspectives, and Frontiers of Knowledge

This article provides a comprehensive review of several subclasses of metallo-type peptidases expressed by the main clinically relevant protozoa, including Plasmodium spp., Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium spp., Leishmania spp., Trypanosoma spp., Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia duodenalis, and Trichomonas vaginalis. These species comprise a diverse group of unicellular eukaryotic microorganisms responsible for widespread and severe human infections. Metallopeptidases, defined as hydrolases with activity mediated by divalent metal cation, play important roles in the induction and maintenance of parasitic infections. In this context, metallopeptidases can be considered veritable virulence factors in protozoa with direct/indirect participation in several key pathophysiological processes, including adherence, invasion, evasion, excystation, central metabolism, nutrition, growth, proliferation, and differentiation. Indeed, metallopeptidases have become an important and valid target to search for new compounds with chemotherapeutic purposes. The present review aims to gather updates regarding metallopeptidase subclasses, exploring their participation in protozoa virulence as well as investigating the similarity of peptidase sequences through bioinformatic techniques in order to discover clusters of great relevance for the development of new broad antiparasitic molecules.

Automated summary

This article comprehensively reviews the subclasses of metallo-type peptidases expressed by clinically relevant protozoa and their roles in parasitic infections. Metallopeptidases play important roles in key pathophysiological processes and have become valuable targets for finding new chemotherapeutic compounds. The review aims to gather updates on metallopeptidase subclasses and investigate the similarity of peptidase sequences through bioinformatic techniques to discover clusters relevant for developing new antiparasitic molecules.