THE MODE OF ACTION AND THE MECHANISM OF RESISTANCE TO ANTIMALARIAL-DRUGS

The mechanism of action of the antifolate and quinoline antinialarials has been investigated over the last few decades, and recent advances should aid the development of new drugs to combat the increasingly ref ractile parasite. The molecular description of resistance to the antif olates has been well characterised and is due to structural changes in the target enzymes, but the factors involved in the parasite's abilit y to circumvent the action of the quinoline antimalarials have yet to be fully elucidated. This review discusses the mode of action of these drugs and the means used by the parasite to defeat our therapeutic in genuity.