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Paradigm shifts in malaria parasite biochemistry and anti‐malarial chemotherapy
Author(s) -
Surolia Namita,
RamachandraRao Satish P.,
Surolia Avadhesha
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.10042
Subject(s) - apicoplast , malaria , plasmodium falciparum , parasite hosting , obligate , biology , artemisinin , triclosan , apicomplexa , virology , protozoa , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , medicine , ecology , pathology , world wide web , computer science
A fatty acid synthesis (FAS) pathway was recently discovered and established in the obligate human parasite Plasmodium falciparum . Its inhibition by triclosan (2,4,4′‐trichloro‐2′‐hydroxydiphenyl ether) leads to its classification as a type II FAS. Humans, the vertebrate host for the malarial parasite utilize type I FAS, which is not inhibited by triclosan. This discovery thus paves the way for novel approaches to the treatment of malaria. In direct contrast to the delayed‐death phenotype associated with poisoning of the apicoplast using certain other drugs, the rapid and striking action of triclosan suggests the possibility of developing new drug(s) for the treatment of malaria. BioEssays 24:192–196, 2002. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.