Indirect inhibition by antibiotics of nucleotide and deoxynucleotide biosynthesis in Plasmodium falciparum.

The effects of the antibiotics, doxycycline, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol, upon levels of nucleoside-5'-triphosphates (NTPs) and 2'-deoxynucleoside-5'-triphosphates (dNTPs) have been compared in the malarial parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, and in human CCRF-CEM leukemia cells. All 4 antibiotics had more severe effects upon levels of NTPs and dNTPs in P. falciparum compared with leukemia cells providing an explanation for their selective toxicity against malaria and their utility as antimalarial drugs. In bacteria, the first 3 drugs inhibit protein synthesis while ciprofloxacin inhibits topoisomerase II. The observed depletions of NTPs and dNTPs would be a secondary effect of the drug but may result in death of the parasite.

La cria de los monos Aotus para las investigaciones sobre la malaria en el hombre. / Breeding of Aotus monkeys for the research of human malaria

El mono dormilon (Aotus) es un importante huesped experimental de la malaria, pero en la actualidad se cuenta con muy pocos ejemplares de ese tipo de simios. Esta escasez obstaculiza las investigaciones para elaborar farmacos y vacunas contra la malaria. Este articulo describe los resultados de la cria de una pequena colonia de monos Aotus que, realizada en gran escala, podria resolver en parte el problema que representa la escasez de esos primates