Genetic activity of niridazole in yeast.

Niridazole, one of several drugs presently known to be of value in the treatment of human schistosomiasis, was tested for its activity in inducing mitotic recombination in yeast. It was found that niridazole is genetically active when the treatment of yeast cells is performed in a rich medium (YPG-medium) under growing conditions, but not when treatment is carried out in a non-nutrient suspension (phosphate buffer). The data suggest that niridazole might be converted to an active compound by yeast metabolism. The results of the experiments with niridazole in the non-nutrient medium were compared with those of AF-2 and SQ18, 506, two agents which have been shown to be genetically active in the present assay system.