title: A new molecular approach for cidal vs static antimalarial determination by quantifying mRNA levels.
abstract: In order to maximise compliance, the future antimalarial treatment should ideally require just a single-dose administration. This, in turn, demands new fast-acting effective drugs. Currently, methods to measure the in vitro killing rate of antimalarials are based on parasite growth. We have developed and validated a method to determine and classify antimalarial agents based on their cidal or static activity following quantitative Real Time PCR (RT-PCR) analysis. The method described here is a fast, reliable and user-friendly technique with a medium throughput. Metabolic activity of the parasite is followed by measuring mRNA expression levels of several genes during 5 parasite life cycles. mRNA from the parasite culture is then retrotranscribed to cDNA and quantified by RT-PCR. This new method provides a rapid and reproducible way to accurately measure the antimalarial activity of new compounds in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum.
authors: Diseases of the Developing World, GlaxoSmithKline, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Noemí
authors: N
authors: Bahamontes-Rosa
authors: Ane
authors: A
authors: Rodríguez-Alejandre
authors: Rubén
authors: R
authors: González-del-Rio
authors: José Francisco
authors: JF
authors: García-Bustos
authors: Alfonso
authors: A
authors: Mendoza-Losana
mesh_terms: D000962:Antimalarials / Q000145:classification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods*; D005718:Gametogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D017125:Genes, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D012333:RNA, Messenger