Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes: with a view to a kill

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
File version
Author(s)
Butterworth, Alice S
Skinner-Adams, Tina S
Gardiner, Don L
Trenholme, Katharine R
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
2013
Size

216477 bytes

File type(s)

application/pdf

Location
License
Abstract

Drugs that kill or inhibit the sexual stages of Plasmodium in order to prevent transmission are important components of malaria control programmes. Reducing gametocyte carriage is central to the control of Plasmodium falciparum transmission as infection can result in extended periods of gametocytaemia. Unfortunately the number of drugs with activity against gametocytes is limited. Primaquine is currently the only licensed drug with activity against the sexual stages of malaria parasites and its use is hampered by safety concerns. This shortcoming is likely the result of the technical challenges associated with gametocyte studies together with the focus of previous drug discovery campaigns on asexual parasite stages. However recent emphasis on malaria eradication has resulted in an upsurge of interest in identifying compounds with activity against gametocytes. This review examines the gametocytocidal properties of currently available drugs as well as those in the development pipeline and examines the prospects for discovery of new anti-gametocyte compounds.

Journal Title

Parasitology

Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume

140

Issue
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement

© 2013 Cambridge University Press. The attached file is reproduced here in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the journal's website for access to the definitive, published version.

Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject

Veterinary sciences

Persistent link to this record
Citation
Collections