The future of artemisinins: natural, synthetic or recombinant?
Artemisinins are the most important anti-malarial drugs in use today, but are more costly than previous anti-malarials and production and price tend to fluctuate. Alternative ways of producing artemisinins are discussed here in the light of a recent paper in BMC Biotechnology on improving the yield of the precursor, artemisinic acid, in genetically engineered yeast.
Hommel
Marcel
M
Institut Pasteur, 25-28 rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75724 Cedex 15, France. mhommel@pasteur.fr
D000962:Antimalarials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015003:Yeasts / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins