[Plasmodium falciparum: antimalarial activities of antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides targeted to histidine-rich protein genes in vitro].
OBJECTIVE
To study the inhibition of growth of Plasmodium falciparum cultured in vitro with antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotide (AS ODN) against histidine-rich proteins (HRP).


METHODS
The ODNs against HRP II and HRP III were synthesized and used to study the antimalarial activities in vitro. Plasmodium falciparum (FCC1/HN strain, China) were exposed to AS DONs for 48 h, and the growth inhibition was determined by microscopic examination.


RESULTS
At 1 mumol/L, all ODNs inhibited parasite growth and development in a target-independent manner. However, when the ODN concentrations were between 0.01 and 0.5 mumol/L, the AS ODN significantly inhibited the growth and development of P. falciparum compared with ODN controls (P < 0.01). Inhibition by the sense strand ODN did not differ significantly from the control group (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Blockade of the expression of HRP II and HRP III AS ODN could inhibit P. falciparum cultured in vitro.
Yu
X B
XB
Department of Parasitology, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510089.
Fang
J M
JM
Luo
S H
SH
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D000099053:Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein
D000962:Antimalarials; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense; D011506:Proteins; D000099053:Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein