New compound inhibits malaria parasite growth

Scientists have created unique peptide-morpholino oligomer (PMO) conjugates that penetrate red blood cells and target the molecular machinery responsible for P. falciparum parasite growth.The research was carried out by a Yale University team headed by Nobel laureate Sidney Altman following the discovery by Yale immunobiology professor Alfred Bothwell of a basic peptide that can penetrate cell walls and membranes.According to findings published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, the PMO conjugates have potent antimalarial activity, blocking early development, maturation, and replication of the parasite. The conjugates were equally effective against drug sensitive and drug resistant P. falciparum strains. Prof. Altman told MSN NZ, "While we primarily looked at one species of parasite, it is clear the compound also knocks out drug-resistant strains of malaria as well. This compound can wipe out strains that are currently resistant to drugs such as chloroquine and pyrimethamine." The research team believes that the potency, selectivity, and predicted safety of PMO conjugates make this approach attractive for the development of a unique class of target-specific antimalarials and for large-scale functional analysis of the malarial genome.