title: Ultrastructural and real-time microscopic changes in P. falciparum-infected red blood cells following treatment with antimalarial drugs.
abstract: Ultrastructural changes to P. falciparum-infected red blood cells were examined in vitro after treatment with antimalarial drugs. Artesunate had the most rapid parasitocidal effect. All three drugs caused structural changes within the parasite, including dilatation of the parasitophorus vacuole membrane, depletion of ribosomes, mitochondrial swelling, and decreased formation of hemozoin crystals. The structure of surface knobs and Maurer's clefts were similar to controls but reduced in number. Only depletion of free ribosomes correlated with antimalarial drug exposure. Drug treatment decreased movement of hemozoin granules within parasites on real-time microscopy, before recognizable morphological changes of parasite death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical Pathology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Navakanit
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sachanonta
authors.forename: Kesinee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chotivanich
authors.forename: Urai
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Chaisri
authors.forename: Gareth D H
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: David J P
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: Nicholas P J
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: Emsri
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pongponratn
mesh_terms: D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077332:Artesunate; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011803:Quinine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011804:Quinolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D053058:Trophozoites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010879:Piperazines
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D000077332:Artesunate; D011803:Quinine; D011804:Quinolines; C034759:piperaquine; D010879:Piperazines