Increased severity of malaria infection in rats fed supplementary amino acids.
Infection with Plasmodium berghei malaria is severely inhibited in rats fed on a low protein diet. A range of amino acid supplements was added to a 4.2% casein diet to determine whether the relationship between level of infection and protein content could be attributed to the dietary amounts of the essential amino acids. Significant increases in levels of infection were achieved by supplementation with specific combinations of amino acids. Threonine was most effective in increasing the degree of parasitaemia but its effect was further enhanced when it was combined with dietary excess of certain other amino acids, notably valine, isoleucine and methionine.
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008288:Malaria / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000472:pathogenicity; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D000596:Amino Acids; D004044:Dietary Proteins