Acetylsalicylic acid and dihydroartemisinin combined therapy on experimental malaria-associated acute lung injury: analysis of lung function and the inflammatory process.

Background: Severe malaria can cause respiratory symptoms, which may lead to malaria-acute lung injury (MA-ALI) due to inflammation and damage to the blood-gas barrier. Patients with severe malaria also often present thrombocytopenia, and the use of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), a commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with immunomodulatory and antiplatelet effects, may pose a risk in regions where malaria is endemic. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the systemic impact of ASA and dihydroartemisinin (DHA) on ALI induced in mice by Plasmodium berghei NK65 (PbNK65).

Mesenchymal stromal cells protect against vascular damage and depression-like behavior in mice surviving cerebral malaria.

Background: Malaria is one of the most critical global infectious diseases. Severe systemic inflammatory diseases, such as cerebral malaria, lead to the development of cognitive and behavioral alterations, such as learning disabilities and loss of memory capacity, as well as increased anxiety and depression. The consequences are profound and usually contribute to reduce the patient's quality of life.

In vitro-reduced susceptibility to artemether in P. falciparum and its association with polymorphisms on transporter genes.

Plasmodium falciparum with reduced sensitivity to artemisinin derivatives has been observed in endemic areas, but the molecular mechanisms for this reduced sensitivity remain unclear. We evaluated the association between in vitro susceptibility of P. falciparum isolates obtained from southwest Nigeria and polymorphisms in selected putative transporter genes (PFE0775C, PF13_0271, pfmrp1, pfcrt, and pfmdr1).

Molecular and biological aspects of antimalarial resistance in Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax.

The development of antimalarial drugs involving novel mechanisms of action is of imminent importance. Several potential drug candidates of synthetic and natural origin as well as their combination therapies are currently being evaluated for their efficacy against drug-resistant strains of the parasite. Various plasmodial targets/pathways, such as the Purine salvage pathway, Pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway and also the processes in the apicoplast, have been identified and are being utilized for the discovery and development of novel antimalarial therapies.