Evaluating the effects of metronidazole, metformin, and onion extract on GAPDH activity and nitric oxide production in Blastocystis sp. cultures: a biochemical and therapeutic approach

Background

Blastocystis sp. is a highly prevalent anaerobic intestinal protozoan increasingly associated with gastrointestinal disorders. Its survival within the gut microenvironment depends on metabolic pathways such as glycolysis, where glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) plays a central role, alongside interactions with nitric oxide (NO) derived from host defenses and surrounding microbiota. The emergence of metronidazole resistance necessitates exploration of alternative therapeutic strategies.