METHOD FOR EVALUATION OF DRUG RESISTANCE FOR PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM

THE DETECTION OF DRUG RESISTANT FORMS OF PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM HAS TRADITIONALLY REQUIRED A 24-48 HR CULTURE PERIOD WITH ANALYSIS CONDUCTED BY MICROSCOPICALLY MEASURING THE LEVEL OF PARASITEMIA FOR EACH TEST POINT. IT IS OUR INTENT TO MODIFY THIS PROCEDURE TO ALLOW EARLIER DETECTION OF THE DRUG RESISTANT FORM OF THE PARASITE AND TO PERMIT THIS DETECTION TO BE MADE WITH SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN MAN-POWER REQUIREMENTS. THE ASSAY IS BASED ON DETECTION OF METABOLIC METABOLIC PRODUCTS OF THE PARASITE DURING ITS GROWTH PHASE. THESE METABOLIC PRODUCTS WILL BE MEASURED BY STANDARD TECHNIQUE. THUS THE ASSAY FOR DRUG RESISTANCE WILL BE DEPENDENT ON AN ALTERATION OF THE METABOLISM OF THE PARASITE RATHER THAN DIRECT MEASUREMENT OF PARASITE MULTIPLICATION.