title: Can malaria parasite pathogenesis be prevented by treatment with tumor necrosis factor-alpha?
abstract: We consider a model incorporating the influence of innate and adaptive immune responses on malaria pathogenesis. By calculating the model reproduction number for a special representation of cytokine interaction, we have shown that the cytokine tumour necrosis factor-α can be administered to inhibit malaria infection. We have also found that if the cytokine F ∗ and a generic drug of efficacy ε are administered as dual therapy then clearance of the parasite can be achieved even for a generic drug of low efficacy. Our study is recommending administration of dual therapy as a strategy to prevent parasites from developing resistance to malaria treatment drugs.
authors.affiliation: MBI, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. afriedman@mbi.osu.edu
authors.forename: Avner
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: Edward M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Lungu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055641:Mathematical Concepts; D008954:Models, Biological; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D011157:Population Dynamics; D049490:Systems Biology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha