Innate resistance to new antimalarial drugs in Plasmodium falciparum from Nigeria.
The rapid dissemination of chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum in West Africa has been well documented and represents a significant health threat to autochthonous populations. The methodical development of alternative chemotherapeutic agents demands that dispensing new antimalarial drugs (mefloquine, halofantrine, and artemisinine [qinghaosu]) be closely monitored in order to protect their clinical utility. Indeed, mefloquine-resistant strains of P. falciparum have been reported. We present data from experiments in vitro on the innate resistance of P. falciparum isolates to mefloquine as well as a disturbing observation of transient resistance to artemisinine. The implications for the extended efficacy of these new antimalarial drugs are addressed.
Oduola
A M
AM
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Sowunmi
A
A
Milhous
W K
WK
Kyle
D E
DE
Martin
R K
RK
Walker
O
O
Salako
L A
LA
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology; D037621:Artemisinins; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D015767:Mefloquine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009549:Nigeria; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology
D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C031327:artemisinin; D015767:Mefloquine