title: Transmission-Blocking Potential of MEFAS, a Hybrid Compound Derived from Artesunate and Mefloquine.
abstract: Most antimalarial drugs target asexual parasites without reducing gametocyte formation or development. Drugs with dual roles, i.e., those that can target both asexual parasites and gametocytes, would improve the control of malaria. In the current study, MEFAS, a hybrid drug derived from mefloquine and artesunate that has been shown to be an active blood schizonticidal drug, was assessed to determine its ability to block the infectivity of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes. MEFAS was 280 and 15 times more effective than mefloquine alone and artesunate alone, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Malária Experimental e Humana, Fiocruz-Minas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Medicina Molecular, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Malaria Discovery Performance Unit, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Penna-Coutinho
authors.affiliation: GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Malaria Discovery Performance Unit, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria Jesús
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Almela
authors.affiliation: GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Malaria Discovery Performance Unit, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Celia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Miguel-Blanco
authors.affiliation: GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Malaria Discovery Performance Unit, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Esperanza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Herreros
authors.affiliation: Farmanguinhos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paula M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Sá
authors.affiliation: Farmanguinhos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Núbia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boechat
authors.affiliation: Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Malária Experimental e Humana, Fiocruz-Minas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Medicina Molecular, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil akrettli@cpqrr.fiocruz.br.
authors.forename: Antoniana Ursine
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Krettli
mesh_terms: D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077332:Artesunate; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000469:parasitology; D015767:Mefloquine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D000077332:Artesunate; D015767:Mefloquine