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Drug resistance inPlasmodium falciparum malaria

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Summary

Four classes of drugs are reviewed: blood schizontocides acting only on the hemoglobin-digesting blood stages, the antifolates which attack tetrahydrofolate synthesis in all the growing stages, antimitochondrials affecting synthesis and electron transport, and 8-aminoquinolines which interfere with redox processes. Drug effux via a multidrug resistance membrane protein, and the production of a protein competing with the drug for the target hemin are thought to be responsible for resistance to blood schizontocides. Structural changes in target enzymes are responsible for easily-developed resistance to antifolates and antimitochondrials. The judicious use of drug combinations can help to avoid development of resistance and combat resistant infections, but new drugs are urgently needed.

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  1. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St., WC1E 7HT, London, UK

    D. C. Warhurst D. Sc.

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  1. D. C. Warhurst D. Sc.
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Warhurst, D.C. Drug resistance inPlasmodium falciparum malaria. Infection 27 (Suppl 2), S55–S58 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02561674

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