Host cells with transient overexpression of MDR1 as a novel in vitro model for evaluating on-target effect for activity against the epicellular Cryptosporidium parasite.

Data confirmed that, at efficacious concentrations, paclitaxel acted mainly on the parasite target, while doxorubicin might act on both parasite and host cell targets. This model can be employed for studying the action of additional anti-cryptosporidial leads, and adapted to studying drug action in other epicellular pathogens. The limitation of the model is that the anti-cryptosporidial leads/hits need to be MDR1 substrates.