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Understanding the mode of action of and mechanism of resistance to drugs is central to optimising their use, and discovering new therapeutics with novel targets. We have limited understanding of how antimalarial drugs work and how resistance emerges. With few exceptions, antimalarial drugs in current use belong to a limited collection of chemical structures that act on a small number of partially characterised biochemical targets. Resistance has emerged to many of these compounds. The use of closely related compounds has promoted the spread of multidrug resistant parasites. This review intends to collate contemporary knowledge, and also to highlight conflicting views on unresolved issues.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/s0163-7258(00)00115-7

Type

Journal article

Journal

Pharmacology & therapeutics

Publication Date

02/2001

Volume

89

Pages

207 - 219

Addresses

World Health Organization, Communicable Diseases Cluster (CDS), UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), CH-1211 27, Geneva, Switzerland. olliarop@who.ch

Keywords

Animals, Humans, Plasmodium, Sesquiterpenes, Artemisinins, Lactones, Naphthoquinones, Quinolines, Nucleic Acids, Folic Acid Antagonists, Antimalarials, Drug Therapy, Combination, Drug Resistance, Mutation, Atovaquone, Proguanil