Quantitative effects of salycylhydroxamic acid and glycerol on Trypanosoma brucei glycolysis in vitro and in vivo.

During anaerobic glycolysis in vitro in the presence of salicylhydroxamic acid, Trypanosoma brucei brucei converts glucose to equimolar amounts of glycerol and pyruvate as end products. Glycerol, whether generated endogenously and pyruvate as end products. Glycerol, whether generated endogenously or added exogenously, can inhibit anaerobic glycolysis sufficiently in vitro to result in cell death. The concomitant administration of salicylhydroxamic acid and glycerol to rats infected with T. brucei brucei results in a rapid clearance of parasitemia. Our results clearly demonstrate a new and approachable chemotherapeutic target for African trypanosomes.