[N-1,N-12]bis(ethyl)-cis-6,7-dehydrospermine: a new drug for treatment andprevention of Cryptosporidium parvum infection of mice deficient in T-cellreceptor alpha

Cryptosporidium parvum infection of T-cell receptor alpha (TCR-alpha)-defic ient mice results in a persistent infection. In this study, treatment with a polyamine analogue (SL-11047) prevented C. parvum infection in suckling T CR-alpha-deficient mice and cleared an existing infection in older mice. Tr eatment,vith putrescine, while capable of preventing infection, did not cle ar C. parvum from previously infected mice. These findings provide further evidence that polyamine metabolic pathways are targets for new anticryptosp oridial chemotherapeutic agents.