2-Octadecynoic acid as a dual life stage inhibitor of <em>Plasmodium</em> infections and plasmodial FAS-II enzymes (Publications)
The malaria parasite Plasmodium goes through two life stages in the human host, a non-symptomatic liver stage (LS) followed by a blood stage with all clinical manifestation of the disease. In this study [...] stages. 2-Octadecynoic acid (2-ODA) was identified as the best inhibitor of Plasmodium berghei parasites with ten times higher potency (IC50=0.34µg/ml) than the control drug. In target determination studies [...] study identifies 2-ODA as the most promising antiparasitic 2-AFA, particularly...
Genetic validation of <em>Pf</em>FKBP35 as an antimalarial drug target (Publications)
Plasmodium falciparum accounts for the majority of over 600,000 malaria-associated deaths annually. Parasites resistant to nearly all antimalarials have emerged and the need for drugs with alternative modes [...] small molecules, a genetic validation of this factor as a drug target is missing and its function in parasite biology remains elusive. Here, we show that limiting PfFKBP35 levels are lethal to P. falciparum [...] with major implications for the development of FK506-derived molecules...
New Antimalarial Drug Shows Promise (News)
https://www.swisstph.ch/en/news/news-detail/news/new-antimalarial-drug-shows-promise
to block all life-cycle stages of the malaria parasite, offering protection against infection as well as potentially blocking transmission of the parasite from person to person, suggests that this compound [...] Sergio Wittlin, Swiss TPH. Swiss TPH and other academic partners tested the compound against the parasites at different stages of their life cycle. Swiss TPH has a long-standing history in diseases of poverty
A comparative evaluation of mobile medical APPS (MMAS) for reading and interpreting malaria rapid diagnostic tests (Publications)
RDTs at parasite densities typically found in patients that experience malaria symptoms (> 100 p/microl) compared to the human eye. At low parasite densities for the Pf line and across all parasite densities [...] products using cultured Plasmodium falciparum blood samples at five dilutions ranging from 20 to 1000 parasites (p)/microlitre (microl) and malaria negative blood samples. The RDTs were performed in a controlled
A comparative evaluation of mobile medical APPS (MMAS) for reading and interpreting malaria rapid diagnostic tests (Publications)
RDTs at parasite densities typically found in patients that experience malaria symptoms (> 100 p/microl) compared to the human eye. At low parasite densities for the Pf line and across all parasite densities [...] products using cultured Plasmodium falciparum blood samples at five dilutions ranging from 20 to 1000 parasites (p)/microlitre (microl) and malaria negative blood samples. The RDTs were performed in a controlled
Modelling the relationship between malaria prevalence as a measure of transmission and mortality across age groups (Publications)
from the Kisumu HDSS between 2007 and 2015 were used to determine malaria parasite prevalence (PP) and clinical malaria (parasites plus reported fever within 24 h or temperature above 37.5 degrees C). Household [...] BACKGROUND: Parasite prevalence has been used widely as a measure of malaria transmission, especially in malaria endemic areas. However, its contribution and relationship to malaria mortality across different [...] and health surveys. RESULTS: Using 5-year aggregated data,...
Modelling the relationship between malaria prevalence as a measure of transmission and mortality across age groups (Publications)
from the Kisumu HDSS between 2007 and 2015 were used to determine malaria parasite prevalence (PP) and clinical malaria (parasites plus reported fever within 24 h or temperature above 37.5 degrees C). Household [...] BACKGROUND: Parasite prevalence has been used widely as a measure of malaria transmission, especially in malaria endemic areas. However, its contribution and relationship to malaria mortality across different [...] and health surveys. RESULTS: Using 5-year aggregated data,...
Antiparasitic agents: new drugs on the horizon (Publications)
The need for new drugs against tropical parasites such as Plasmodium falciparum and Trypanosoma brucei is persistent since problems with resistance and toxicity are jeopardizing the currently available [...] diamidines, novel members of which may serve as back-up compounds against trypanosomes and other parasites. Thus, finally, new therapeutic agents against malaria and sleeping sickness are within reach
In vitro assessment of the pharmacodynamic properties of DB75, piperaquine, OZ277 and OZ401 in cultures of<em> Plasmodium falciparum</em> (Publications)
cultures of Plasmodium falciparum, the time- and concentration-dependent growth changes of erythrocytic parasite stages to DB75, piperaquine, OZ277 and OZ401 were investigated in vitro over a concentration range [...] vitro exposure (1, 6, 12 or 24 h) were monitored by the incorporation of [(3)H]hypoxanthine into the parasite nucleic acids. Results After 1 h of exposure to the highest concentration of the compound followed
<em>In vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em> trematode models for chemotherapeutic studies (Publications)
SUMMARYSchistosomiasis and food-borne trematodiases are chronic parasitic diseases affecting millions of people mostly in the developing world. Additional drugs should be developed as only few drugs are [...] are available for treatment and drug resistance might emerge. In vitro and in vivo whole parasite screens represent essential components of the trematodicidal drug discovery cascade. This review describes
