EFFECTS OF TRIFLURALIN ON GROWTH AND DIFFERENTIATION OF THE AMOEBO-FLAGELLATE NAEGLERIA

The microtubule-disrupting herbicide trifluralin (TFL) inhibits growth and flagellate transformation of the-amoebo-flagellates Naegleria fow leri and N. gruberi. Growth is less sensitive than is flagellar transf ormation to TFL: 50 mu M reversibly arrests growth while 10 mu M irrev ersibly blocks transformation. Naegleria shows a high sensitivity to T FL like trypanosomatids and unlike the low sensitivity to mammals. TFL is potentially useful for the study of flagellate transformation espe cially since colchicine does not effect Naegleria. It is conceivable t hat TFL may be useful in the treatment of primary amoebic meningoencep halitis caused by N. fowleri.