Antiparasitic Activity of Auranofin against Pathogenic Naegleria fowleri

We report that the gold containing antirheumatoid drug auranofin is amoebicidal against human pathogenic Naegleria fowleri. Treatment of N. fowleri cultures at biologically relevant concentrations of 0.75-3.0 μg/ml auranofin reduced amoeba counts, metabolic activity, and increased cell permeability. These results suggest that the addition of auranofin may benefit the treatment of N. fowleri-infected patients afflicted by the rapidly fatal disease primary amoebic meningoencephalitis.