Mechanisms of resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to antimalarial drugs.
Chemotherapy and chemoprophylaxis are the principal means of combating malaria parasite infections in the human host. In the last 75 years, since the introduction of synthetic antimalarials, only a small number of compounds have been found suitable for clinical usage, and this limited armoury is now greatly compromised by the spread of drug-resistant parasite strains. Our current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance in the lethal species Plasmodium falciparum is reviewed here.
Hyde
John E
JE
Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 88, M60 1QD, Manchester, UK. john.hyde@umist.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017125:Genes, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity
D000962:Antimalarials; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists