The effects of inhibitors of sulphur-containing amino acid metabolism on the growth of Trichomonas vaginalis in vitro.

A range of inhibitors of enzymes catalysing the metabolism of sulphur-containing amino acids were tested for efficacy against Trichomonas vaginalis in vitro. Sinefungin, tubercidin, ara A, bithionol, hexachlorophene, dichlorophene and 5-azacytidine were found to be effective antitrichomonal agents. Combinations of any two of these inhibitors were, in most cases, no more effective than one inhibitor used alone, but marked synergy was apparent with monothioglycerol and methionine. None of the inhibitors investigated was as potent as metronidazole, the drug of choice for the treatment of trichomoniasis.