Malaria treatment should begin with parasitological diagnosis where possible, says WHO.

BMJ. 2010;340:c1402

Authors: Zarocostas J

PMID: 20215357 [PubMed - in process]

Clustering of malaria treatment failure (TF) in Daraweesh: Hints for host genetic susceptibility to TF with emphasis on immune-modulating SNPs.

Infect Genet Evol. 2010 Mar 6;

Authors: Giha HA, Elghazali G, Nasr A, Iriemenam NC, Berzins K, Troye-Blomberg M, Theander TG, Arnot D

In malaria, drug resistance and treatment failure (TF) are not synonymous, although are escalating together. Over nine years of surveillances for malaria morbidity and TF in Daraweesh village in eastern Sudan (1991-2004), 136 donors (15-78 years) from 43 house-holds, treated for 278 malaria episodes and had experienced 46 incident of TF, were included in this study. Blood obtained from the donors in 2005, was used for measurement of IgG subclasses against Pf332-C231 antigen and GM/KM allotyping and for genotyping of the donors for; FcgammaRII 131 (HH, RH, RR), CRP 286 (C<T<A) and Hb AA/AS, polymorphisms. Results revealed that all treatment failures were experienced by 37 individual (TF-prone-individuals, TFPi), while the remaining donors were treated for 182 malaria episodes without TF (treatment responders, TR). In 7 house-holds, all malaria patients were TFPi, while in 19 house-holds all patients were TR. The TFPi compared with matched TR individuals (TRi), had significantly higher IgG1 level (p=0.021), while IgG3/IgG1 ratio was significantly higher in the TRi (P=0.016). However, the frequencies of all tested polymorphisms (GM/KM, FcgammaRII 131, CRP 286 and Hb AA/AS), were comparable between the study groups. In conclusion, there was clustering of TF at level of individuals and house-holds with differences in base-line immunity between the TFPi and TRi. Together, the results suggesting an immune-mediated genetic susceptibility to TF, as some of the tested polymorphisms showed trends but no significant association with TF.

PMID: 20215002 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Comparative detection of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum DNA in saliva and urine samples from symptomatic malaria patients in a low endemic area.

Malar J. 2010 Mar 9;9(1):72

Authors: Buppan P, Putaporntip C, Pattanawong U, Seethamchai S, Jongwutiwes S

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Definite diagnosis of malaria relies on microscopy detection of blood stages of parasites in peripheral blood and requires blood sample collection. The nested PCR method has shown to be more sensitive and superior to microscopy in detecting co-infections of Plasmodium species in circulation while Plasmodium falciparum DNA can be identified in urine and saliva specimens of patients, albeit at a lower sensitivity. METHODS: Matched blood, saliva and urine samples were collected from 100 microscopy-positive and 20 microscopy-negative febrile patients who attended a malaria clinic in Tak Province, northwestern Thailand for nested PCR analysis targeting the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene of human malaria. Both P. falciparum and Plasmodium vivax have been known to circulate at a comparable rate in the study area. RESULTS: Comparing with microscopy results, nested PCR of saliva samples had a sensitivity of 74.1% for P. falciparum detection and 84% for P. vivax detection while 44.4% and 34.0% of the corresponding values were observed for urine samples. Both nested PCR results of saliva and urine samples had a specificity of 100% for identification of P. falciparum and P. vivax when compared with nested PCR results from blood. Co-infections of both species were found in four, 26 and 8 patients by microscopy and nested PCR of blood and saliva samples, respectively. Although the positive rates of nested PCR of saliva samples for P. falciparum increased with parasite density, no tendency occurred in results from nested PCR of saliva samples for P. vivax as well as those of urine samples. CONCLUSIONS: Saliva and urine samples could be alternative noninvasive sources of DNA for molecular detection of both P. falciparum and P. vivax. Further improvement of the detection method will offer an opportunity to use these samples for diagnosis of malaria.

PMID: 20214828 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Geometric constrains for detecting short actin filaments by cryogenic electron tomography.

PMC Biophys. 2010 Mar 5;3(1):6

Authors: Kudryashev M, Lepper S, Baumeister W, Cyrklaff M, Frischknecht F

ABSTRACT: Polymerization of actin into filaments can push membranes forming extensions like filopodia or lamellipodia, which are important during processes such as cell motility and phagocytosis. Similarly, small organelles or pathogens can be moved by actin polymerization. Such actin filaments can be arranged in different patterns and are usually hundreds of nanometers in length as revealed by various electron microscopy approaches. Much shorter actin filaments are involved in the motility of apicomplexan parasites. However, these short filaments have to date not been visualized in intact cells. Here, we investigated Plasmodium sporozoites, the motile forms of the malaria parasite that are transmitted by the mosquito, using cryogenic electron tomography. We detected filopodia-like extensions of the plasma membrane and observed filamentous structures in the supra-alveolar space underneath the plasma membrane. However, these filaments could not be unambiguously assigned as actin filaments. In silico simulations of EM data collection and tomographic reconstruction identify the limits in revealing the filaments due to their length, concentration and orientation. PACS Codes: 87.64.Ee.

PMID: 20214767 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Efficacy and tolerability of artesunate-amodiaquine (Camoquin plus(R)) versus artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem(R)) against uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria: multisite trial in Senegal and Ivory Coast.

Trop Med Int Health. 2010 Mar 1;

Authors: Faye B, Offianan AT, Ndiaye JL, Tine RC, Touré W, Djoman K, Sylla K, Ndiaye PS, Penali L, Gaye O

Summary Objective To compare, in a phase IV trial, the efficacy and tolerability of artesunate-amodiaquine (Camoquin plus(R)) dosed at 300 and 600 mg of amodiaquine per tablet to artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem(R)) for the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum uncomplicated malaria in Ivory Cost and Senegal. Method Multisite, randomised, open-labelled study in patients over the age of 7 years. The primary endpoint for efficacy was adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR) at day 28. The secondary endpoints were fever and parasite clearance and gametocyte carriage in each treatment group. Drug tolerability was assessed comparing adverse events and modification of biological parameters between D0 and D7. Data were analysed on an intention-to-treat and per protocol basis. Results We included 322 patients; 316 patients completed the monitoring to D28 (155 in AS + AQ group and 161 in AL group). In ITT analysis, an ACPR corrected rate of 97.4% was observed in AS + AQ group versus 97% in AL group (P = 0.99). No parasite recrudescence was observed in AS + AQ arm. All patients in both groups had a fever and parasite clearance at D2. Gametocytes had disappeared by D14 in the AL group and by D21 in the AS + AQ group. No serious adverse events were observed. Minor adverse events were significantly more frequent in the AS + AQ arm. Biological parameters between D0 and D7 did not show any significant statistical variations except for anaemia. Conclusion This study demonstrates the efficacy and tolerability of AS + AQ for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria treatment in African patients over the age of 7 years.

PMID: 20214761 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Transfusion transmitted malaria in a non-endemic area.

J Assoc Physicians India. 2009 Sep;57:654-6

Authors: Chauhan V, Negi RC, Verma B, Thakur S

Transfusion transmitted malaria in non-endemic areas is a rare and alarming diagnosis. It deserves a special mention because of its rarity, delay in diagnosis, treatment and serious complications. Shimla, though nonendemic, but being a tourist place, can get malaria transported from other parts of India. We present here a case of transfusion transmitted falciparum malaria in IGMC Shimla. We have discussed the strategies for diagnosis and prevention of transfusion transmitted malaria in endemic and non-endemic regions.

PMID: 20214005 [PubMed - in process]

Biotec Visions 2010, March-April.

Biotechnol J. 2010 Mar 8;5(3):A1-A8

Authors:

News: Attraction of adipose tissue - Swine flu vaccine from insectcells - MicroRNA in multiple sclerosis - Proteomic detection of adenoma - Systematic engineering for arsenic removal - Bacterial cellulose to make blood vessels - The recipe for primordial soup: acid or bitter, hot or warm - Increased O(2) in hollow fiber bioreactors - Eye stem cells to treat immune disease - Super-strong collagen - Designing functional metalloproteins - Higher oil content in tobacco leaves - Alternative metabolic routes - New compass point blot helps find hTERT factors - Extracellular signals - doomed cells in the bacterial communityJournal Highlights: Oils and fats for the chemical industry - Molecular Nutrition ReviewsNew from the Encyclopedia of Life Sciences:EM analysis of protein structureOpinion:Ethics body asks: How green are new biofuels?Most Cited in 2009Tips and tricks: Storing bacterial strainsAward: Garden Award 2010Funding News: Euro 400.000 for new malaria drug - Cardiovascular biomarker research - Support to cholera surveillanceIndustry News: Human genome sequencing projects - Fighting Huntington's disease - Multiple sclerosis collaborationBook Highlights: AIDS and tuberculosis - Perinatal stem cellsTest your knowledge: Do you recognize this?Meeting Preview: The 9th Annual Biological Production Forum 2010.

PMID: 20213637 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Design and utilization of epitope-based databases and predictive tools.

Immunogenetics. 2010 Mar 6;

Authors: Salimi N, Fleri W, Peters B, Sette A

In the last decade, significant progress has been made in expanding the scope and depth of publicly available immunological databases and online analysis resources, which have become an integral part of the repertoire of tools available to the scientific community for basic and applied research. Herein, we present a general overview of different resources and databases currently available. Because of our association with the Immune Epitope Database and Analysis Resource, this resource is reviewed in more detail. Our review includes aspects such as the development of formal ontologies and the type and breadth of analytical tools available to predict epitopes and analyze immune epitope data. A common feature of immunological databases is the requirement to host large amounts of data extracted from disparate sources. Accordingly, we discuss and review processes to curate the immunological literature, as well as examples of how the curated data can be used to generate a meta-analysis of the epitope knowledge currently available for diseases of worldwide concern, such as influenza and malaria. Finally, we review the impact of immunological databases, by analyzing their usage and citations, and by categorizing the type of citations. Taken together, the results highlight the growing impact and utility of immunological databases for the scientific community.

PMID: 20213141 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

The effect of Point Mutations in Dihydrofolate reductase genes and Multidrug resistance gene 1-86 on treatment of falciparum malaria in Sudan.

J Infect Dev Ctries. 2010;4(2):61-9

Authors: Yusuf RU, Omar SA, Ngure RM

BACKGROUND: One of the major problems to the treatment of malaria is the emergence and spread of parasite resistant to antimalarial drugs. Due to increased chloroquine (CQ) resistance, the antifolate combinations are becoming important in the chemotherapy of falciparum malaria. However, resistance to antifolate exists and they are still effective in the above combinations. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of antimalarial drug resistance markers in P. falciparum isolates, involving the detection of mutations at the mdr 1- 86 which associates with amodiaquine resistance, and dhfr mutations associated with SP resistances. METHODS: The dot-blot/ probe hybridization, which is more sensitive and specific; it detects parasitaemia of less than 100 parasites/microl of blood, and can identify a minority parasite genotype down to 1% in a mixture, was adopted to determine multi-drug resistance (mdr1-86) to show the correlation of Amodiaquine (AQ) resistance and PCR/ RFLP adopted to determine dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) baseline resistance to Sulphadoxine- Pyrimethamine (SP) resistance in Nubian region of southern Sudan. A randomized open label trial of Artesunate (AS) + SP and AS+ SP was carried out in children less than 5 years. Molecular analysis of filter paper preserved blood samples collected was carried out to provide a baseline estimate of allele prevalences. RESULTS: Baseline of the allele prevalence of the mdr1 86 locus in the AS+ AQ was successful for 80 isolates: 71(8.11%) carried parasites harbouring the mdr1-86 Tyr resistance allele, while 7 (89.19%) carried mdr1-86 Asn sensitivity allele and 2 (2.7%) were of mixed infection, having both resistance and wild type allele. Overall, the prevalence of the dhfr point mutation, codon 51, 59 and 108: 82.5% (132/160) carried mutations at dhfr (N51I, C59R or S108N), but triple mutants were rare (3.1%) in the AS + SP arm. CONCLUSION: The research provides the evidence that mutations present in dhfr and mdr1 86 has a significant effect on the type of treatment following SP and AQ chemotherapy. SP resistance may spread rapidly, and AS + AQ is likely to be a better option, provided AQ use is restricted to the combination. The significance of the study shows that definitely combination of drugs improves SP therapy at the study site. Keywords: Antimalarial drugs, P. falciparum, dhfr, mdr-1, dot-blot hybridisation technique, PCR/RFLP.

PMID: 20212335 [PubMed - in process]

Does Recent Contact With a Health Care Provider Make a Difference in Malaria Knowledge?

J Trop Pediatr. 2010 Mar 8;

Authors: Yamamoto SS, Souares A, Sié A, Sauerborn R

Knowledge and practices with respect to malaria are aspects that need to be considered as part of effective malaria programs. We assessed and compared malaria practices and knowledge among those who had recently visited a health care provider and those who had not. A matched, population-based case-control study was conducted among 338 women between 15 and 45 years of age and caretakers of children </=9 years of age in Nouna, Burkina Faso. Little difference was found in the reported responses between the cases and controls, which indicates that recent visits to health care providers may not have an effect on malaria risk or knowledge. Differences were noted in malaria practices, which could suggest that health care providers are consulted only after home treatments fail. Therefore, programs and policies targeted to health care providers aimed at improving the dissemination of information may be of some benefit.

PMID: 20211856 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

The IL-12p70/IL-10 interplay is differentially regulated by free heme and hemozoin in murine bone-marrow-derived macrophages.

Int J Parasitol. 2010 Mar 5;

Authors: Cambos M, Bazinet S, Abed E, Sanchez-Dardon J, Bernard C, Moreau R, M MO, Scorza T

The outcome of malarial anaemia is determined by a complex interplay between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, its severity associated with accumulation of hemozoin (Hz) in macrophages, elevated IL-10 responses and impaired IL-12 production. Although free heme contributes to malarial anaemia by inducing oxidative damage of red blood cells (RBCs) and enhancing their clearance by phagocytes, its impact on IL-12/IL-10 interactions has not been fully characterized. Herein, the effect of hemin (HE) on IL-12 and IL-10 responses was studied in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) and compared with synthetic Hz. Our data reveal that HE induces modest inhibition of IL-12p70 responses to lipopolyssacharide (LPS) whereas Hz significantly impairs IL-12p70 responses to IFNgamma/LPS through down-regulation of IL-12p35 and p40 gene expression. Although reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated after short-term exposure to HE and Hz, prolonged exposure to these iron protoporphyrins has opposite effects on the cellular redox status, HE being the only compound able to promote persistent ROS production. Accordingly, the inhibitory effect of HE on IL-12p70 seems sustained by redox-dependent induction of IL-10 and is partially controlled by the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway. Indeed, treatment with n-acetylcysteine (NAC) or with the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 inhibits IL-10 responses and significantly restores IL-12p70 responses to IFNgamma/LPS in HE-conditioned BMDM. Our results suggest that oxidant stress induced by free heme may potentially contribute to sustained production of IL-10 and down-regulation of IL-12 responses in malaria.

PMID: 20211185 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Convergent ethical issues in HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria vaccine trials in Africa: Report from the WHO/UNAIDS African AIDS Vaccine Programme's Ethics, Law and Human Rights Collaborating Centre consultation, 10-11 February 2009, Durban, South Africa.

BMC Med Ethics. 2010 Mar 9;11(1):3

Authors: Mamotte N, Wassenaar D, Koen J, Essack Z

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Africa continues to bear a disproportionate share of the global HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria burden. The development and distribution of safe, effective and affordable vaccines is critical to reduce these epidemics. However, conducting HIV/AIDS, TB, and/or malaria vaccine trials simultaneously in developing countries, or in populations affected by all three diseases, is likely to result in numerous ethical challenges. METHOD: In order to explore convergent ethical issues in HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria vaccine trials in Africa, the Ethics, Law and Human Rights Collaborating Centre of the WHO/UNAIDS African AIDS Vaccine Programme hosted a consultation on the Convergent Ethical Issues in HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria Vaccine Trials in Africa in Durban, South Africa on the 10-11 February 2009. RESULTS: Key cross cutting ethical issues were prioritized during the consultation as community engagement; ancillary care obligations; care and treatment; informed consent and resource sharing. CONCLUSION: The consultation revealed that while there have been few attempts to find convergence on ethical issues between HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria vaccine trial fields to date, there is much common ground and scope for convergence work between stakeholders in the three fields.

PMID: 20211030 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

The infectivity of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana to insecticide-resistant and susceptible Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes at two different temperatures.

Malar J. 2010 Mar 8;9(1):71

Authors: Kikankie CK, Brooke BD, Knols BG, Koekemoer LL, Farenhorst M, Hunt RH, Thomas MB, Coetzee M

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Control of the major African malaria vector species continues to rely extensively on the application of residual insecticides through indoor house spraying or bed net impregnation. Insecticide resistance is undermining the sustainability of these control strategies. Alternatives to the currently available conventional chemical insecticides are, therefore, urgently needed. Use of fungal pathogens as biopesticides is one such possibility. However, one of the challenges to the approach is the potential influence of varied environmental conditions and target species that could affect the efficacy of a biological 'active ingredient'. An initial investigation into this was carried out to assess the susceptibility of insecticide-susceptible and resistant laboratory strains and wild-collected Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes to infection with the fungus Beauveria bassiana under two different laboratory temperature regimes. METHODS: Insecticide susceptibility to all four classes of insecticides recommended by WHO for vector control was tested on laboratory and wild-caught An. arabiensis, using standard WHO bioassay protocols. Mosquito susceptibility to fungus infection was tested using dry spores of B. bassiana under two temperature regimes (21+/-1 oC or 25+/-2 oC) representative of indoor conditions observed in western Kenya. Cox regression analysis was used to assess the effect of fungal infection on mosquito survival and the effect of insecticide resistance status and temperature on mortality rates following fungus infection. RESULTS: Survival data showed no relationship between insecticide susceptibility and susceptibility to B. bassiana. All tested colonies showed complete susceptibility to fungal infection despite some showing high resistance levels to chemical insecticides. There was, however, a difference in fungus-induced mortality rates between temperature treatments with virulence significantly higher at 25oC than 21oC. Even so, because malaria parasite development is also known to slow as temperatures fall, expected reductions in malaria transmission potential due to fungal infection under the cooler conditions would still be high. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide evidence that the entomopathogenic fungus B. bassiana has potential for use as an alternative vector control tool against insecticide-resistant mosquitoes under conditions typical of indoor resting environments. Nonetheless, the observed variation in effective virulence reveals the need for further study to optimize selection of isolates, dose and use strategy in different eco-epidemiological settings.

PMID: 20210990 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Entomopathogenic fungi as the next-generation control agents against malaria mosquitoes.

Future Microbiol. 2010 Mar;5:339-41

Authors: Knols BG, Bukhari T, Farenhorst M

PMID: 20210542 [PubMed - in process]

A comparative study of a flow-cytometry-based assessment of in vitro Plasmodium falciparum drug sensitivity.

Malar J. 2009;8:294

Authors: Karl S, Wong RP, St Pierre TG, Davis TM

BACKGROUND: Recently developed Sybr Green-based in vitro Plasmodium falciparum drug sensitivity assays provide an attractive alternative to current manual and automated methods. The present study evaluated flow cytometry measurement of DNA staining with Sybr Green in comparison with the P. falciparum lactate dehydrogenase assay, the tritiated hypoxanthine incorporation assay, a previously described Sybr Green based plate reader assay and light microscopy. METHODS: All assays were set up in standardized format in 96-well plates. The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of chloroquine, mefloquine and dihydroartemisinin against the laboratory adapted P. falciparum strains 3D7, E8B, W2mef and Dd2 were determined using each method. RESULTS: The resolution achieved by flow cytometry allowed quantification of the increase in individual cell DNA content after an incubation period of only 24 h. Regression, and Bland and Altman analyses showed that the IC50 values determined using the flow cytometry assay after 24 h agreed well with those obtained using the hypoxanthine incorporation assay, the P. falciparum lactate dehydrogenase assay, the Sybr Green plate reader assay and light microscopy. However the values obtained with the flow cytometry assay after 48 h of incubation differed significantly from those obtained with the hypoxanthine incorporation assay, and the P. falciparum lactate dehydrogenase assay at low IC50 values, but agreed well with the Sybr Green plate reader assay and light microscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Although flow cytometric equipment is expensive, the necessary reagents are inexpensive, the procedure is simple and rapid, and the cell volume required is minimal. This should allow field studies using fingerprick sample volumes.

PMID: 20003396 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Haemoglobin interference and increased sensitivity of fluorimetric assays for quantification of low-parasitaemia Plasmodium infected erythrocytes.

Malar J. 2009;8:279

Authors: Moneriz C, Marín-García P, Bautista JM, Diez A, Puyet A

BACKGROUND: Improvements on malarial diagnostic methods are currently needed for the correct detection in low-density Plasmodium falciparum infections. Microfluorimetric DNA-based assays have been previously used for evaluation of anti-malarial drug efficacy on Plasmodium infected erythrocytes. Several factors affecting the sensitivity of these methods have been evaluated, and tested for the detection and quantification of the parasite in low parasitaemia conditions. METHODS: Parasitaemia was assessed by measuring SYBRGreen I (SGI) and PicoGreen (PG) fluorescence of P. falciparum Dd2 cultures on human red blood cells. Different modifications of standard methods were tested to improve the detection sensitivity. Calculation of IC50 for chloroquine was used to validate the method. RESULTS: Removal of haemoglobin from infected red-blood cells culture (IRBC) increased considerably the fluorescent signal obtained from both SGI and PG. Detergents used for cell lysis also showed to have an effect on the fluorescent signal. Upon depletion of haemoglobin and detergents the fluorescence emission of SGI and PG increased, respectively, 10- and 60-fold, extending notably the dynamic range of the assay. Under these conditions, a 20-fold higher PG vs. SGI fluorescent signal was observed. The estimated limits of detection and quantification for the PG haemoglobin/detergent-depleted method were 0.2% and 0.7% parasitaemia, respectively, which allow the detection of ~10 parasites per microliter. The method was validated on whole blood-infected samples, displaying similar results as those obtained using IRBC. Removal of white-blood cells prior to the assay allowed to increase the accuracy of the measurement, by reducing the relative uncertainty at the limit of detection from 0.5 to 0.1. CONCLUSION: The use of PG microassays on detergent-free, haemoglobin-depleted samples appears as the best choice both for the detection of Plasmodium in low-density infections and anti-malarial drugs tests.

PMID: 19961586 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Plagiarism.

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2009 Aug;103(8):855; author reply 855-6

Authors: Brentlinger PE, Behrens CB, Micek MA, Steketee RW, Andrews KT, Skinner-Adams TS, Gardiner DL, McCarthy JS, Parikh S, ter Kuile F, Ayisi J

PMID: 19595302 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

From Tucson to genomics and transgenics: the vector biology network and the emergence of modern vector biology.

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2009;3(3):e343

Authors: Beaty BJ, Prager DJ, James AA, Jacobs-Lorena M, Miller LH, Law JH, Collins FH, Kafatos FC

PMID: 19333394 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Comment on: the burden of polyparasitism among primary schoolchildren in rural and farming areas in Zimbabwe.

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2009 Aug;103(8):857

Authors: Ling H, Zhang Z, Jiang Q

PMID: 19278706 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

The future of artemisinins: natural, synthetic or recombinant?

J Biol. 2008;7(10):38

Authors: Hommel M

Artemisinins are the most important anti-malarial drugs in use today, but are more costly than previous anti-malarials and production and price tend to fluctuate. Alternative ways of producing artemisinins are discussed here in the light of a recent paper in BMC Biotechnology on improving the yield of the precursor, artemisinic acid, in genetically engineered yeast.

PMID: 19090980 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]