The effects of bistratene A on the development of Plasmodium falciparum in culture.
The effects of the marine ascidian compound bistratene A on in vitro cultures of Plasmodium falciparum were assessed. Concentrations from 0 to 1.5 micrograms ml(-1) of the compound were tested. The parasitaemia in asynchronous cultures treated with bistratene A increased normally over the first 40 h, then decreased leaving only gametocytes. When synchronized cultures were treated with a constant dose of 50 ng ml(-1), gametocytes developed more rapidly than they did in control cultures. In addition, gametocytes developed in drug-treated cultures of P. falciparum that normally do not produce gametocytes. Bistratene A appears to inhibit merozoite invasion as well as to induce gametocytogenesis.
Mann
V H
VH
Queensland Institute of Medical Research, The Bancroft Centre, Herston, Australia.
Law
M H
MH
Watters
D
D
Saul
A
A
D000081:Acetamides; D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood / Q000469:parasitology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004988:Ethers, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005718:Gametogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D011714:Pyrans; D013045:Species Specificity; D013141:Spiro Compounds
D000081:Acetamides; D004988:Ethers, Cyclic; D008387:Marine Toxins; D011714:Pyrans; D013141:Spiro Compounds; C059975:bistratene A