Ribonucleotide reductase: A new target for antiparasite therapies.

New treatments are required urgently for the control of parasitic protozoan diseases of humans and animals. One approach is the development of subunit vaccines; the other focuses on identifying and exploiting specific differences in essential functions between the host and parasite. One enzyme currently attracting attention is ribonucleotide reductase, an essential component in the biosynthesis of DNA. In this article, Geoffrey Ingram and Jane Kinnaird examine differences between the host and parasite enzymes and assess possible means of therapeutic intervention.