title: Antimalarials: Molecular Drug Targets and Mechanism of Action.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite a reduction in the global burden of malaria, the disease remains responsible for 214 million cases and 438,000 deaths annually with 88% of the mortality occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria control largely depends on effective chemotherapy. However, the historic and current emergence and spread of multi-drug resistant parasite strains provides significant challenges to malaria control and consequently, reduction of malaria-associated morbidity and mortality. Combating parasite drug resistance requires pharmacological compounds that target both known and novel metabolic pathways that are crucial for parasite survival. In addition, the identification of novel therapeutic agents that target distinct molecular pathways, apart from those of the conventional antimalarials, offers an approach for minimizing drug resistance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review summarizes current anti-malarial approaches and strategies, therapeutic efficacy for conventional and non-conventional antimalarials, parasitic targets, and the mechanisms responsible for the development of drug resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Global Health, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM. United States.
authors.forename: Angela O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Achieng
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine and Albuquerque Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Albuquerque. Mexico.
authors.forename: Manmeet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rawat
authors.affiliation: Malaria Diagnostic Centre, Centre for Clinical Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, P .O. Box 54-40100, Kisumu. Kenya.
authors.forename: Bernhards
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ogutu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Technology, School of Public Health and Community Development, Maseno University, Maseno. Kenya.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guyah
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Global Health, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM. United States.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Michael Ong'echa
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Global Health, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM. United States.
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: J Perkins
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Global Health, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, MSC10-5550, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001. United States.
authors.forename: Prakasha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kempaiah
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055808:Drug Discovery; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials
keywords: Chemotypes; Drug-resistance; Malaria; P. falciparum; Sporozoites; antimalarials