Chloroquine increases Plasmodium falciparum gametocytogenesis in vitro

Citation
A. Buckling et al., Chloroquine increases Plasmodium falciparum gametocytogenesis in vitro, PARASITOL, 118, 1999, pp. 339-346
Citations number
27
Categorie Soggetti
Microbiology
Journal title
PARASITOLOGY
ISSN journal
00311820 → ACNP
Volume
118
Year of publication
1999
Part
4
Pages
339 - 346
Database
ISI
SICI code
0031-1820(199904)118:<339:CIPFGI>2.0.ZU;2-5
Abstract
Malaria parasites are capable of modulating the diversion of resources from asexual growth to the production of stages infective to mosquitoes (gameto cytes). Increased rates of gametocytogenesis appear to be a general respons e to stress, both naturally encountered and novel. We have previously repor ted earlier and greater gametocytogenesis in response to subcurative antima larial chemotherapy in the rodent malaria, Plasmodium chabaudi, in vivo. Us ing an immunofluorescent assay to detect parasites that had invaded red blo od cell monolayers, we demonstrate a 5-fold increase in gametocytogenesis i n the human malaria, P. falciparum, in vitro, in response to treatment with the antimalarial drug chloroquine. In all clones used, gametocytogenesis i ncreased with increasing inhibition of asexual growth by chloroquine. Furth ermore, there were clone differences in the relationship between stress and gametocyte production, implying the response was genetically variable. Thi s was not, however, associated with chloroquine resistance. The epidemiolog ical significance of these results is discussed.