Researchers make key malarial drug-resistence finding
Saturday, April 18, 2015 - 12:00
in Biology & Nature
A molecular mechanism responsible for making malaria parasites resistant to artemisinins, the leading class of antimalarial drugs, has been discovered by researchers. Artemisinins are powerful drugs that have the most rapid action of all current drugs against the parasite species that causes the most dangerous form of malaria. Artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) are now standard treatment worldwide for P. falciparum malaria. Unfortunately, resistance to artemisinin has been detected in five countries across Southeast Asia.