Characterization of adapted P. falciparum isolates aiming to evaluate new compounds against sexual and asexual stages of the parasite’s life cycle.

Malaria, a disease caused by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium spp., is one of the main public health problems in the world. P. falciparum is the predominant parasite in sub-Saharan Africa, where high mortality rates are associated with the disease. The emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant P. falciparum highlights the need for objective measures to assess the susceptibility of circulating isolates to antimalarials, as well as the search for new active compounds. Several culture strains are available for the evaluation of new compounds. However, these parasites were adapted many years ago, making it necessary to evaluate the activity of new compounds against currently circulating strains. In this sense, four P. falciparum isolates were recently adapted to culture and will be characterized in this project, aiming to make these isolates available for sensitivity testing to new antimalarials. The isolates were obtained in Porto Velho, RO, from patients recruited at the Tropical Medicine Center in collaboration with Dr. Dhelio Batista (CAAE Ethics Committee 58738416.1.0000.0011). The susceptibility of isolates to the antimalarials chloroquine, mefloquine, amodiaquine, proguanil, pyrimethamine and lumefantrine will be assessed using the SYBR Green I1 method. Susceptibility to artemisinin derivatives will be assessed using the ring survival assay -RSA2. Furthermore, the ability of the isolates to produce gametocytes will also be evaluated in in vitro culture. This experiment will be important as it will enable the evaluation of compounds against sexual stages using Brazilian isolates.

Project details

Basic Science

Feb 2024 — Dec 2024

Brazil