Artemisinin and chloroquine: do mode of action and mechanism of resistance involve the same protagonists?
Considerable progress has been made in antimalarial research; however, further studies are required to improve the efficacy of clinically available drugs, to develop new agents with superior activity and to avoid the emergence of resistance. In particular, efforts must focus on understanding the mode of action of antimalarial agents and on the mechanism by which the parasite Plasmodium falciparum impedes the action of these drugs. In this review, the current status of the antimalarial agents chloroquine and artemisinin is discussed, and the link between mechanism of action and resistance highlighted.
Lelièvre
Joël
J
Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie du CHU de Toulouse, TSA 50032, 31059 Toulouse, France.
Berry
Antoine
A
Benoit-Vical
Françoise
F
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004351:Drug Resistance; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D002738:Chloroquine; C031327:artemisinin