title: DNA hybridization for assessment of response of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine therapy.
abstract: We studied the accuracy of PFR1-AP, a synthetic DNA hybridization probe conjugated to alkaline phosphatase, in monitoring Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia during in vivo drug susceptibility surveys. Duplicate blood samples were collected from six children enrolled in a 14-day in vivo chloroquine study in Rwanda. Results obtained by microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained thick blood smears and by DNA hybridization were compared. Both techniques successfully monitored an infection with chloroquine-susceptible parasites and infections exhibiting various levels of resistance to treatment. For each patient, temporal evolution of the microscopic parasite counts and the DNA hybridization signals were closely parallel, although a wide range of rapidly changing levels of parasitemia occurred through the course of the study. This suggests that DNA hybridization assay using PFR1-AP detects P. falciparum parasites sensitively and specifically and is a valuable tool for drug resistance surveys.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D015342:DNA Probes; D003720:Densitometry; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008288:Malaria / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D002738:Chloroquine; D004247:DNA