Effects of dipyridamole on Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes.

This study assessed the antimalarial activity of dipyridamole, a well-known vasodilator and inhibitor of platelet aggregation. Dipyridamole was effective against all of the erythrocytic stages such as rings, trophozoites and schizonts, and induced ultrastructural changes during the transition from trophozoite to schizont in vitro. Merozoites were also inhibited from invading dipyridamole-treated erythrocytes.

Association of a determinant on mouse chromosome 18 with experimental severe Plasmodium berghei malaria.

Experimental severe malaria (ESM; also known as experimental cerebral malaria) is an acute lethal syndrome caused by infection with Plasmodium berghei ANKA and associated with coma and other neurological manifestations in mice. Various inbred strains of mice exhibit differences in susceptibility to the development of ESM. For example, C57BL/6 mice are highly susceptible and DBA/2 mice are relatively resistant.

Inhibition of Glucan Synthesis by Flavipin-crosslinked Casein Polymers.

Mutastein, a casein polymer that inhibits insoluble glucan synthesis by Streptococcus sobrinus, was produced when Aspergillus terreus was grown in a medium containing α-casein. In these experiments, it was shown that flavipin (3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyl-o-phthalaldehyde) isolated from cultures of A. terreus caused polymerization of α-casein.