Nitrofurantoin (Furadantine), an antibiotic, inhibits bacterial DNA, RNA, and cell wall protein synthesis. Activated by bacterial flavoproteins to intermediates that inactivate bacterial ribosomal proteins, Nitrofurantoin is used prophylactically as a urinary anti-infective agent against most gram-positive and gram-negative organisms and for long-term suppression of infections.

In vivo, nitrofurantoin (25-100 mg/kg, i.m.) reduces E. coli replication and abscess formation in the renal medulla of infected rats in a dose-dependent manner. It prevents kidney and bladder infection in rats following bladder inoculation with clinical isolates of P. mirabilis. Nitrofurantoin also prevents alkalization of urine as well as calculi and abscess formation in a rat model of P. vulgaris urinary tract infection.

HeLa cells are grown and infected with T. gondii for 24 hr in a 96-well microplate, and then treated with drugs. After 24 hr, 20 μl of MTS solution is added directly into culture wells, followed by incubating for 1.5 hr at 37?C and measuring the absorbance at 490 nm in a microplate reader. (Only for Reference)