THE EFFECT OF CURDLAN SULFATE ON DEVELOPMENT IN-VITRO OF PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM

Sulphated glycoconjugates have been reported to inhibit malarial meroz oite invasion and interfere with rosetting and adhesion. Curdlan sulph ate, a sulphated glycoconjugate with a favourable toxicity profile, ex hibits antimalarial activity in vitro. The aim of this study was to ch aracterize the antimalarial activity of curdlan and investigate its ef fect on adhesion. The antimalarial activity of curdlan at different po ints in the intraerythrocytic developmental cycle was investigated usi ng morphological observation and radiolabelled hypoxanthine uptake as indices of parasite growth. Effects on adhesion were investigated usin g a platelet model. Curdlan suphate had no effect on the ability of th e parasite to develop through the intraerythrocytic cycle. Inhibition of invasion was dependent on the drug being present at the time of inv asion. Curdlan did not interfere with the ability of the parasite to a dhere to the C36 receptor in the platelet model. In conclusion, the lo w toxicity of curdlan and its marked anti-invasion activity on merozoi tes make curdlan a potential auxiliary treatment for severe malaria.