A novel validated assay to support the discovery of new anti-malarial gametocytocidal agents.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Drugs that kill or inhibit Plasmodium gametocytes in the human host could potentially synergize the impact of other chemotherapeutic interventions by blocking transmission. To develop such agents, reliable methods are needed to study the in vitro activity of compounds against gametocytes. This study describes a novel assay for characterizing the activity of anti-malarial drugs against the later stages of Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte development using real-time PCR (qPCR).

Methods

Genes previously reported to be transcribed at the different sexual stages of the gametocytogenesis were selected for study and their mRNA expression was measured in a gametocytogenesis course by qPCR. Genes mainly expressed in the later stages of gametocyte development were used as a

SUBMITTER: Bahamontes-Rosa N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4957904 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature