The Texas A&M University System

Deeann Wallis

James C Sacchettini

Dwight Baker

Niam Zhou

Steven A Maxwell

Nian E Zhou

James Sacchettini

Matthew W Miller

Theresa W Fossum

Nian Zhou

Steve Maxwell

Compositions and methods for inhibiting and/or sensitizing or re-sensitizing a parasite to an antiparasitic drug are provided. The compositions can comprise a rifamycin derivative or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, or prodrug thereof in an amount and formulation sufficient to inhibit or induce drug-sensitization in a parasite. The methods can comprise administering a rifamycin derivative or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, or prodrug thereof to a parasite in an amount and formulation sufficient to inhibit or induce drug-sensitization in the parasite.

Compositions and methods for drug sensitization of parasites

The disclosure provides rifamycin and rifamycin derivative compositions, including rifabutin and rifabutin derivative compositions able to cause drug-sensitization in a cancer cell or inhibition of a cancer cell. The disclosure also provides methods of administering such compositions to cancer cells to sensitize them to drugs, such as chemotherapeutics, or directly inhibit them. The disclosure also provides methods of administering such compositions to increase reactive oxygen species (ROS), particularly superoxides, in cancer cells. The disclosure further provides methods of determining whether a cancer will respond to chemotherapeutics and whether to administer rifamycin or a rifamycin derivative based on ROS levels in cancer cells of a patient.

Compositions and methods for drug-sensitization or inhibition of a cancer cell

Growing community of inventors

College Station, TX, United States of America

Deeann Wallis