ANTIMALARIAL EFFECTS OF VINYL SULFONE CYSTEINE PROTEINASE-INHIBITORS

We evaluated the antimalarial effects of vinyl sulfone cysteine protei nase inhibitors, A number of vinyl sulfones strongly inhibited falcipa in, a Plasmodium falciparum cysteine proteinase that is a critical hem oglobinase. In studies of cultured parasites, nanomolar concentrations of three vinyl sulfones inhibited parasite hemoglobin degradation, me tabolic activity, and development, The antimalarial effects correlated with the inhibition of falcipain, Our results suggest that vinyl sulf ones or related cysteine proteinase inhibitors may have promise as ant imalarial agents.