ArticlePLoS biology2021
Repurposing the orphan drug nitisinone to control the transmission of African trypanosomiasis.
Article in PLoS biology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 27 citations in OpenAlex.
- Comment on: Evaluating the impact of nitisinone at mosquito-lethal doses on Lutzomyia longipalpis.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2026Article
- Orphan Medications: An Innovative and Promising Approach against Leishmaniasis.Current microbiology · 2026Review
- Evaluating the impact of nitisinone at mosquito-lethal doses on Lutzomyia longipalpis.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2026Article
- Article
- The β-triketone, nitisinone, kills insecticide-resistant mosquitoes through cuticular uptake.Parasites & vectors · 2025Article
- Deployment and transcriptional evaluation of nitisinone, an FDA-approved drug, to control bed bugs.Pest management science · 2025Article
- Exploration of innovative drug repurposing strategies for combating human protozoan diseases: Advances, challenges, and opportunities.Journal of pharmaceutical analysis · 2025Review
- Critical Insight into Plausible Acquired Tocopherol Pathway in Neglected Human Trypanosomatids.ACS omega · 2021Review
- Early Post-Prandial Regulation of Protein Expression in the Midgut of Chagas Disease VectorMicroorganisms · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
18 authors at 7 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
Abstract
Tsetse transmit African trypanosomiasis, which is a disease fatal to both humans and animals. A vaccine to protect against this disease does not exist so transmission control relies on eliminating tsetse populations. Although neurotoxic insecticides are the gold standard for insect control, they negatively impact the environment and reduce populations of insect pollinator species. Here we present a promising, environment-friendly alternative to current insecticides that targets the insect tyrosine metabolism pathway. A bloodmeal contains high levels of tyrosine, which is toxic to haematophagous insects if it is not degraded and eliminated. RNA interference (RNAi) of either the first two enzymes in the tyrosine degradation pathway (tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) and 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)) was lethal to tsetse. Furthermore, nitisinone (NTBC), an FDA-approved tyrosine catabolism inhibitor, killed tsetse regardless if the drug was orally or topically applied. However, oral administration of NTBC to bumblebees did not affect their survival. Using a novel mathematical model, we show that NTBC could reduce the transmission of African trypanosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa, thus accelerating current disease elimination programmes.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.