Perillyl alcohol modulates activation, permeability and integrity of human brain endothelial cells induced by Plasmodium falciparum.

Background: Cerebral malaria (CM) is a severe immunovasculopathy caused for Plasmodium falciparum infection, which is characterised by the sequestration of parasitised red blood cells (pRBCs) in brain microvessels. Previous studies have shown that some terpenes, such as perillyl alcohol (POH), exhibit a marked efficacy in preventing cerebrovascular inflammation, breakdown of the brain-blood barrier (BBB) and brain leucocyte accumulation in experimental CM models.

Objective: To analyse the effects of POH on the endothelium using human brain endothelial cell (HBEC) monolayers co-cultured with pRBCs.

Intravenous whole blood transfusion results in faster recovery of vascular integrity and increased survival in experimental cerebral malaria.

Background: Cerebral malaria is a lethal complication of Plasmodium falciparum infections in need of better therapies. Previous work in murine experimental cerebral malaria (ECM) indicated that the combination of artemether plus intraperitoneal whole blood improved vascular integrity and increased survival compared to artemether alone. However, the effects of blood or plasma transfusion administered via the intravenous route have not previously been evaluated in ECM.

A lactate dehydrogenase ELISA-based assay for the in vitro determination of Plasmodium berghei sensitivity to anti-malarial drugs.

Background: Plasmodium berghei rodent malaria is a well-known model for the investigation of anti-malarial drug efficacy in vivo. However, the availability of drug in vitro assays in P. berghei is reduced when compared with the spectrum of techniques existing for Plasmodium falciparum.