Malaria Drug Research Articles

Unmasking Masculinity: Considering Gender, Science, and Nation in Responses to COVID-19

694 Feminist Studies 46, no. 3. © 2020 by Feminist Studies, Inc. Eve Ng Unmasking Masculinity: Considering Gender, Science, and Nation in Responses to COVID-19 In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the reluctance of many men—including political leaders—to wear face masks became apparent , with normative masculinity coding the protective value of masks as indicative of a wearer’s weakness.1 Commentators pointed to nations with women as heads-of-state doing better than several prominent nations led by men, highlighting an association between “strong leadership ” and “swaggering masculinity.”2 Male leaders who are “authoritarian , vainglorious and blustering,” such as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Iran, and President Donald Trump in the United States, have presided over some of the world’s highest COVID-19 infection and mortality numbers , in contrast to, for example, New Zealand under Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Germany under Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Taiwan under President Tsai Ing-wen.3 1. Valerio Capraro and Hélène Barcelo, “The Effect of Messaging and Gender on Intentions to Wear a Face Covering to Slow Down COVID-19 Transmission ,” PsyArXiv Preprints, May 11, 2020, https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/tg7vz; Monica Hesse, “Making Men Feel Manly in Masks Is, Unfortunately, a Public -Health Challenge of Our Time,” Washington Post, June 27, 2020. 2. See Amanda Taub, “Why Are Women-Led Nations Doing Better with Covid-19?” New York Times, May 15, 2020. 3. See Nicholas Kristof, “What the Pandemic Reveals about the Male Ego,” New York Times, June 13, 2020. For per capita rates, see Hannah Ritchie, Eve Ng 695 Yet, beyond the relationship between the gender of a country’s leader and its coronavirus statistics, the gendered dimensions of COVID-19 responses reflect and comprise the shifting authority of science and discourses of national identity. Amid global contestation over economic and political dominance, there is an urgent need for expansive feminist approaches to culturally and historically specific constructions of masculinity .4 At the level of policy, there are issues not just for equitably and successfully addressing the pandemic, but also for informed, multilateral approaches to other pressing global issues, such as immigration, labor, and the environment. For feminist theory, this essay highlights the productiveness of bringing together studies of media discourses, science and technology, and globalization to analyze the contingent feminization of scientific research and knowledge. The coronavirus crisis has also amplified a masculinist nationalism in some countries that is tied to both projections of invulnerability by individual male leaders and the purported strength of the nation. Esteban Ortiz-Ospina, Diana Beltekian, Edouard Mathieu, Joe Hasell, Bobbie Macdonald, Charlie Giattino, Max Roser, Breck Yunits, Ernst van Woerden, Daniel Gavrilov, Matthieu Bergel, Shahid Ahmad, and Jason Crawford, “Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) Statistics and Research,” Our World in Data, University of Oxford, https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus (accessed November 3, 2020). 4. For example, see Judith Kegan Gardiner, ed., Masculinity Studies and Feminist Theory: New Directions (New York: Columbia University Press, 2002). It is also worth noting here that the specific characteristics of hegemonic masculinity are just as contingently defined as marginalized forms of masculinity and that valorized and stigmatized masculinities are co-constructed in particular contexts. R. W. Connell originated and developed the term “hegemonic masculinity” in Gender and Power: Society, the Person, and Sexual Politics (Sydney: Allen and Unwin, 1987) and Masculinities (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1995). See also Michael Kimmel, Manhood in America : A Cultural History, 4th ed. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2017, 4th ed.); and Mrinalini Sinha, Colonial Masculinity: The “Manly Englishman” and the “Effeminate Bengali” in the Late Nineteenth Century (Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press, 1995). Furthermore, behavioral characteristics associated with normative masculinity are not necessarily instantiated by cis male-bodied individuals, as discussed in work on female masculinity and trans masculinities. For example, see Jack Halberstam, Female Masculinity (Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1998); and Salvador Vidal-Ortiz , “Queering Sexuality and Doing Gender: Transgender Men’s Identification with Gender and Sexuality,” Gendered Sexualities 6 (2002): 181–233. 696 Eve Ng Masks versus Malaria Drugs: Hegemonic Masculinity and “Strength” In examining the gendering of healthcare responses to...

Malaria in North-East India: Importance and Implications in the Era of Elimination

Worldwide and in India, malaria elimination efforts are being ramped up to eradicate the disease by 2030. Malaria elimination efforts in North-East (NE) India will have a great bearing on the overall efforts to eradicate malaria in the rest of India. The first cases of chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance were reported in NE India, and the source of these drug resistant parasites are most likely from South East Asia (SEA). NE India is the only land route through which the parasites from SEA can enter the Indian mainland. India’s malaria drug policy had to be constantly updated due to the emergence of drug resistant parasites in NE India. Malaria is highly endemic in many parts of NE India, and Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for the majority of the cases. Highly efficient primary vectors and emerging secondary vectors complicate malaria elimination efforts in NE India. Many of the high transmission zones in NE India are tribal belts, and are difficult to access. The review details the malaria epidemiology in seven NE Indian states from 2008 to 2018. In addition, the origin and evolution of resistance to major anti-malarials are discussed. Furthermore, the bionomics of primary vectors and emergence of secondary malaria vectors, and possible strategies to prevent and control malaria in NE are outlined.

EKSPLORASI POTENSI ANTI MALARIA SENYAWA BIOAKTIF Moringa oleifera DENGAN PENDEKATAN IN SILICO

Malaria is a global human health problem and also a leading cause of death in tropical and subtropical countries. Over the past fifteen years, the prevalence of malaria has decreased by more than half. However, a new problem emerged, namely the emergence of resistance to existing malaria drugs. Therefore, efforts to develop new malaria drugs are needed to combat the malariad disease. Moringa oleifera is one of the important plants that is widely cultivated in NTT. This plant contains many important pharmacological effects such as anti-asthma, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, and others. However, the pharmacological effects of MO plants as antimalarials are not yet clearly known. The aim of this study is to use the in silico approach to investigate the potential of the Moringa oleifera compound which functions as a Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase-thymidine synthase (pfDHFR-TS) receptor inhihibitor. The research method used is the in silico approach using TCMSP web based application and molecular docking simulation using USCF Chimera. The results of pharmacological tests and molecular docking simulations show that the bioactive pyhtol compound from Moringa oleifera has potential as a new malaria drug compound. Phytol compound has a MW of 296.6; the number of Hdon and Hacc is 1; OB of 33.82%; TPSA of 20.23 and the number of HL is 2.34. While the energy affinity of pyhtol compounds is -6.4 kcal / mol.

EKSPLORASI POTENSI ANTI MALARIA SENYAWA BIOAKTIF Moringa oleifera DENGAN PENDEKATAN IN SILICO

Malaria is a global human health problem and also a leading cause of death in tropical and subtropical countries. Over the past fifteen years, the prevalence of malaria has decreased by more than half. However, a new problem emerged, namely the emergence of resistance to existing malaria drugs. Therefore, efforts to develop new malaria drugs are needed to combat the malariad disease. Moringa oleifera is one of the important plants that is widely cultivated in NTT. This plant contains many important pharmacological effects such as anti-asthma, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, and others. However, the pharmacological effects of MO plants as antimalarials are not yet clearly known. The aim of this study is to use the in silico approach to investigate the potential of the Moringa oleifera compound which functions as a Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase-thymidine synthase (pfDHFR-TS) receptor inhihibitor. The research method used is the in silico approach using TCMSP web based application and molecular docking simulation using USCF Chimera. The results of pharmacological tests and molecular docking simulations show that the bioactive pyhtol compound from Moringa oleifera has potential as a new malaria drug compound. Phytol compound has a MW of 296.6; the number of Hdon and Hacc is 1; OB of 33.82%; TPSA of 20.23 and the number of HL is 2.34. While the energy affinity of pyhtol compounds is -6.4 kcal / mol.

Amplicon deep sequencing improves Plasmodium falciparum genotyping in clinical trials of antimalarial drugs

Clinical trials monitoring malaria drug resistance require genotyping of recurrent Plasmodium falciparum parasites to distinguish between treatment failure and new infection occurring during the trial follow up period. Because trial participants usually harbour multi-clonal P. falciparum infections, deep amplicon sequencing (AmpSeq) was employed to improve sensitivity and reliability of minority clone detection. Paired samples from 32 drug trial participants were Illumina deep-sequenced for five molecular markers. Reads were analysed by custom-made software HaplotypR and trial outcomes compared to results from the previous standard genotyping method based on length-polymorphic markers. Diversity of AmpSeq markers in pre-treatment samples was comparable or higher than length-polymorphic markers. AmpSeq was highly reproducible with consistent quantification of co-infecting parasite clones within a host. Outcomes of the three best-performing markers, cpmp, cpp and ama1-D3, agreed in 26/32 (81%) of patients. Discordance between the three markers performed per sample was much lower by AmpSeq (six patients) compared to length-polymorphic markers (eleven patients). Using AmpSeq for discrimination of recrudescence and new infection in antimalarial drug trials provides highly reproducible and robust characterization of clone dynamics during trial follow-up. AmpSeq overcomes limitations inherent to length-polymorphic markers. Regulatory clinical trials of antimalarial drugs will greatly benefit from this unbiased typing method.

Research progress of effect of artemisinin family drugs on T lymphocytes immunomodulation

Artemisinin was isolated from traditional Chinese herb Artemisia annua for treating malaria. A series of derivatives,like dihydroartemisinin,artesunate,artemether,artether,had the same core chemical structure,and sesquiterpene lactone containing peroxide bridge constitute the basic chemical structure. Besides anti-malaria,artemisinin family drugs were found to ameliorate many different diseases,which have attracted wide attention in recent years. Among different diseases,artemisinin family drugs were found to have T lymphocytes immunomodulation effects,including activation,proliferation,differentiation,apoptosis and subsets function. Because T cell immunologic response is the key point of many diseases,and impact the pathogenic process,therapeutic effect and prognosis,the drug studies with it as the target have become hotspots in recent years. Studies of artemisinin family drug on T cell immunomodulation were still at the initial stage and involved in different disease; furthermore,T cell immune process involves complicated molecular mechanism,it is imperative to summarize the advance of current studies for further systematic explanation and exploration of their characteristics and mechanisms. This article will summarize the research progress of artemisinin family drugs for malaria,autoimmune disease,hypersensitivity reaction,tumor,schistosomiasis and AIDS relating to T cell immune modulation,so as to provide basic and professional reference for related research and application.

Artesunate induces mitochondria-mediated apoptosis of human retinoblastoma cells by upregulating Kruppel-like factor 6

Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in children. Intravitreal chemotherapy achieves favorable clinical outcomes in controlling RB vitreous seeds, which are a common reason for treatment failure. Thus, a novel, effective and safe intravitreal chemotherapeutic drug is urgently required. The malaria drug artesunate (ART) recently demonstrated remarkable anticancer effects with mild side effects. The purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-RB efficacy, the underlying mechanism and the intraocular safety of ART. Herein, we verified that ART inhibits RB cell viability and induces cell apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Microarray analysis revealed that Kruppel-like factor 6 (KLF6) was upregulated after ART treatment, and this was further confirmed by real-time PCR and western blot assays. Silencing of KLF6 expression significantly reversed ART-induced RB cell growth inhibition and apoptosis. Furthermore, ART activated mitochondria-mediated apoptosis of RB cells, while silencing KLF6 expression significantly inhibited this effect. In murine xenotransplantation models of RB, we further confirmed that ART inhibits RB tumor growth, induces tumor cell apoptosis and upregulates KLF6 expression. In addition, KLF6 silencing attenuates ART-mediated inhibition of tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, we proved that intravitreal injection of ART in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats is safe, with no obvious retinal function damage or structural disorders observed by electrophysiology (ERG), fundal photographs, fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) or optical coherence tomography (OCT) examinations. Collectively, our study revealed that ART induces mitochondrial apoptosis of RB cells via upregulating KLF6, and our results may extend the application of ART to the clinic as an effective and safe intravitreal chemotherapeutic drug to treat RB, especially RB with vitreous seeds.

The relative rate of kill of the MMV Malaria Box compounds provides links to the mode of antimalarial action and highlights scaffolds of medicinal chemistry interest.

Rapid rate-of-kill (RoK) is a key parameter in the target candidate profile 1 (TCP1) for the next-generation antimalarial drugs for uncomplicated malaria, termed Single Encounter Radical Cure and Prophylaxis (SERCaP). TCP1 aims to rapidly eliminate the initial parasite burden, ideally as fast as artesunate, but minimally as fast as chloroquine. Here we explore whether the relative RoK of the Medicine for Malaria Venture (MMV) Malaria Box compounds is linked to their mode of action (MoA) and identify scaffolds of medicinal chemistry interest. We used a bioluminescence relative RoK (BRRoK) assay over 6 and 48 h, with exposure to equipotent IC50 concentrations, to compare the cytocidal effects of Malaria Box compounds with those of benchmark antimalarials. BRRoK assay data demonstrate the following relative RoKs, from fast to slow: inhibitors of PfATP4>parasite haemoglobin catabolism>dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase (DHFR-TS)>dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH)>bc1 complex. Core-scaffold clustering analyses revealed intrinsic rapid cytocidal action for diamino-glycerols and 2-(aminomethyl)phenol, but slow action for 2-phenylbenz-imidazoles, 8-hydroxyquinolines and triazolopyrimidines. This study provides proof of principle that a compound's RoK is related to its MoA and that the target's intrinsic RoK is also modified by factors affecting a drug's access to it. Our findings highlight that as we use medicinal chemistry to improve potency, we can also improve the RoK for some scaffolds. Our BRRoK assay provides the necessary throughput for drug discovery and a critical decision-making tool to support development campaigns. Finally, two scaffolds, diamino-glycerols and 2-phenylbenzimidazoles, exhibit fast cytocidal action, inviting medicinal chemistry improvements towards TCP1 candidates.

Effective Communication of Patient Information Leaflets (PILs) in Selected Malaria Drugs in Nigeria

Communication is a soul-train that connects the humans of the same speech community. Effective communication is even a larger soul-train that promotes a peaceful co-existence among the humans. It is established that fracas of all sorts ensue when a society debars effective communication; to misunderstand or not know medical inscriptions attracts the worst health catastrophe that a society can ever imagine. It is against this background that this study investigates if the educated Nigerian malaria users understand the instructions contained in selected Nigerian Malaria Drug Patient Information Leaflets (PILs). The study designed a questionnaire, which consisted of nine question items, and administered it on 900 educated Nigerians through the Google Form Online Outlet (GFOO). To analyse the data, the study applied the non-inferential tools of frequency count and percentage in order to draw conclusions from the natures and features of the data obtained for the study. The study presents, among other findings, that the majority of the educated Nigerians do not understand the PILs of the malaria drugs due to the strange or technical nature of the words, and the complex nature of the sentences used to write the leaflets.

Systematic review of artesunate pharmacokinetics: Implication for treatment of resistant malaria

BackgroundArtesunate (ART) is an artemisinin derivative used as monotherapy for the treatment of severe malaria and in combination with a partner drug for non-severe malaria. Resistance of malaria parasites to artemisinins have emerged in Southeast Asia. Adjustment of drug regimen may be an option to prevent therapeutic failures considering the relative favourable safety profile of ART high doses. MethodsFor that purpose, a systematic review was done using PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases. All studies on ART and DHA pharmacokinetic post-administration of artesunate in human patients or volunteers were included. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist 2009 was used. FindingsFifty studies exploring oral, intravenous, rectal, and intramuscular route (1470 persons, volunteers and patients) were included. Correlations between artesunate doses and Cmax or AUC0-∞ of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) and DHA+ART were evaluated. This correlation was good (R2>0.9) using intravenous (IV) route. DHA and ART+DHA average concentrations (Cav) were well above estimated in vivo half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) for intravenous route, but this was not the case for oral route. InterpretationThe favorable Cav/EC50 ratio for IV route provides evidence that IV ART will remain efficient even in the case of increased resistance level, whereas for the oral route, a two-fold increase in EC50 may lead to therapeutic failures, thus providing a rationale for oral dose escalation. Considering the inter-individual variability of ART pharmacokinetic, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring through antimalarial stewardship activities is needed to optimize drug exposure and avoid resistance development.

Validation of the protein kinase PfCLK3 as a multistage cross-species malarial drug target.

The requirement for next-generation antimalarials to be both curative and transmission-blocking necessitates the identification of previously undiscovered druggable molecular pathways. We identified a selective inhibitor of the Plasmodium falciparum protein kinase PfCLK3, which we used in combination with chemogenetics to validate PfCLK3 as a drug target acting at multiple parasite life stages. Consistent with a role for PfCLK3 in RNA splicing, inhibition resulted in the down-regulation of more than 400 essential parasite genes. Inhibition of PfCLK3 mediated rapid killing of asexual liver- and blood-stage P. falciparum and blockade of gametocyte development, thereby preventing transmission, and also showed parasiticidal activity against P. berghei and P. knowlesi Hence, our data establish PfCLK3 as a target for drugs, with the potential to offer a cure-to be prophylactic and transmission blocking in malaria.

Targeting parasite's protein kinase

Malaria Malaria elimination goals are constantly eroded by the challenge of emerging drug and insecticide resistance. Alam et al. have taken established drug targets—CLK protein kinases involved in regulation of RNA splicing—and investigated how inhibition of the parasite's enzymes blocks completion of its complex life cycle. They identified an inhibitor of the parasite's CLK protein kinase that was 100-fold less active against the most closely related human protein kinase and effective at clearing rodent malaria parasites. Not only does this compound halt the development of sexual stages but it also limits transmission to the mosquito vector of the parasite, a key requirement for malaria drugs. Science , this issue p. [eaau1682][1] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aau1682

Antimalarial Efficacy and Toxicological Assessment of Extracts of Some Ghanaian Medicinal Plants.

The economic costs associated with morbidity and mortality due to malaria and malaria associated complications in many sub-Saharan countries and other malaria endemic regions of the world are huge. Reports of emergence of parasite resistance to current malaria drugs have complicated malaria treatment and require the development of new therapeutic agents. The folkloric use of medicinal plants for the management of malaria is well documented. This work evaluated the antiplasmodial activities and toxicity of some medicinal plants used to treat malaria and malaria-like symptoms in Ghana. Plant extracts were obtained by cold maceration in 70% ethanol. Antiplasmodial efficacies were assessed in vitro against 3 strains of Plasmodium falciparum strains (FCM, W2, and CAM06) and in vivo via the 4-day suppressive test in Plasmodium berghei infected mice. Cytotoxicity and acute toxicity were assessed in mammalian cells and mice, respectively. All extracts were active against at least one of the Plasmodium falciparum strains in in vitro evaluations with IC50's in the range of 4–116 μg/mL, whereas Bidens pilosa extracts, with a chemosuppression rate of 75%, was the most active plant in the in vivo experiments. All plant extracts displayed very weak to no cytotoxicity against the mammalian cell line used and exhibited very good selectivity towards the Plasmodium parasites. Syzygium guineense and Parinari congensis extracts were the most toxic in the acute toxicity tests. Altogether, the results indicate that the medicinal plants do possess impressive antiplasmodial properties and provide scientific basis for their use in traditional herbal medicine.

Regional variation and demographic factors associated with knowledge of malaria risk and prevention strategies among pregnant women in Nigeria

ABSTRACTPregnant women and children are the most vulnerable populations for malaria infection. Yet, knowledge of risk, and preventive measures are poor among this population. Using the 2015 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey, we applied logit link function to estimate the associations of wealth status, educational attainment, and region of residence with malaria risk knowledge and prevention strategies (using a treated mosquito net and malaria drugs) among 739 Nigerian pregnant women aged 15–49 years. Urban women who had obtained a secondary school education (Adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.12; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09–4) or higher (aOR = 8.31; 95% CI 3.2–22) had more knowledge of malaria risk. Urban women in the South-West (aOR = 5.02; [CI] 2.02–12.50) and South-East (aOR = 2.68; 95% CI 1.19–6.06) were more likely to use treated mosquito nets during pregnancy. Women in the urban South-West (aOR = 4.04; 95% CI 1.5–11) were more likely to use malaria drugs during pregnancy than those in the North-Central. A wide regional disparity in the knowledge of malaria risks and use of preventive measures exists. Thus, promoting equal access to malaria preventive measures as well as improving knowledge about malaria transmission by mosquitoes should be considered as essential components of ongoing malaria control and elimination efforts in Nigeria.

Seasonal Depiction of Malariometric Indices in Children under Five Years in a Sudanese Semi-urban Area of Burkina Faso

Aims: Malariometric indices are essential for the assessment of both new therapies and control strategies. As part of the characterization of a new malaria clinical trial site, this study was carried out to assess malariometric indices during the two seasons of a Sudanese area of Burkina Faso, in children aged under five years.
 Study Design: Two community-based cross-sectional surveys were conducted as follow: the first during the rainy season of 2009 and the second during the following dry season. Socio-demographic and clinical data were recorded. A finger prick blood sample was collected to perform malaria blood films and to measure the hemoglobin level.
 Results: Malaria parasitemia prevalence was 55.2% (N = 677) in the rainy season with a geometric mean of parasite density (GMPD) of 3439 trophozoites/µl against 23.3% (N = 720) in the dry season with a GMPD of 1368 trophozoites/µl. Gametocytemia prevalence was 21.7% and 6.5% respectively in rainy and dry season while splenomegaly prevalence was 11.2% (N = 689) in rainy season against 4.2% (N = 752) in dry season. The prevalence of anemia (hemoglobin < 11.0 g/dl) was 90.0% in rainy season and 70.6% in dry season. All indices in rainy season were statistically higher than those in dry season (p-value < 0.0001). The odds of parasite carriage were 3 to 5 times higher in rainy season compared to dry season (95% CI for OR = [3.1, 5.0]).
 Conclusion: The site is located in a seasonal hyper-endemic malaria area and seems appropriate for the conduct of malaria drugs or vaccines studies. Though the gap between seasons is considerable, the residual level of parasite carriage during low transmission period is not negligible and may command the development of strategies targeting this specific period, to break the chain of transmission of the disease.

Malaria Drug Could Moderate Genetic Hearing Loss

Malaria Drug Could Moderate Genetic Hearing Loss

Strategies for improving anti-malarial drug quality in Cambodia market

Anti-malarial drug quality is a central role of malaria treatment in the endemic poor countries. Strategies of improving quality are important to make drug quality to effect patients but neglect to concern in import of fake anti-malarial drug cause failure of treat patients, economic finance, have no confidence and drug resistance in health systems. The appearance of fake anti-malarial drug is affected to people who seek to buy in Cambodia market and efforts are needed to improve drug quality of the Cambodia supply of anti-malarial. Malaria drug vendor has adverted to the alarming scale of poor anti-malarial drug quality in drug store but also illustrated the major geographical gaps in data on anti-malarial drug quality from rural area. Initiatives that offer active disease management strategies and promote patients and malaria knowledge appear more successful in increasing treatment adherence and decreasing the risk of financial hardship. This research reviews is essential to study how anti-malarial drugs are distributed and consumed the strategies and methods available to study the quality of anti-malarial to ensure that they are be able to comprehend about quality.

Adherence to antimalarial drug policy among doctors in Delta State, Nigeria: implications for malaria control.

Malaria is a public health problem compounded with a widespread emergence of drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum which necessitated the formulation of a new antimalarial drug policy (AMP). This study was designed to assess adherence to the policy among physicians in health facilities in Delta state, Nigeria. Cross-sectional, analytic study. Data were collected with a semi-structured questionnaire. Two secondary and one tertiary health facilities in Delta State, Nigeria. Physicians selected with a simple random technique from the facilities. Prescribing pattern of antimalarial drugs and adherence to WHO treatment guideline among doctors. Majority (90.8%) of respondents believed the antimalarial policy (AMP) should be strictly adhered to, although three-fifth (61.0%) of them rated its performance as poor. The level of adherence to the national antimalarial drug policy was high (78.5%) as most doctors prescribed Arthemeter-Lumefantrine, AL for uncomplicated malaria however barely two-fifth (35.4%) adhered to prescribing injectable Artesunate for complicated malaria. AL, (71.9%) was the most prescribed antimalarial drug for uncomplicated malaria The most prescribed antimalarial drugs for complicated malaria was artesunate (40.0%) followed by quinine (27.6%) and artemether (26.7%); although, chloroquine was also prescribed. The level of adherence to AMP among doctors was sub-optimal. Continuous education of doctors on the new AMP is needed to achieve malarial control. No funding was received for this study.

Knowledge of Malaria and Antimalarial Drug Dispensing Practices in Buea Community

ObjeciveThis study was aimed at assessing the knowledge of malaria as well as perception and dispensing practices of antimalarials among vendors in Buea communityIntroductionLack of knowledge of rational use of antimalarial drugs among dispensers is a serious problem, especially in areas of intense transmission thus increasing the risk of resistance and adverse drug reactions.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional survey of a random sample of 140 drug vendors living within the Buea community was conducted between March and June 2017. Questionnaire was designed to obtain information from drug vendors on the general knowledge of malaria as well as dispensing practices. Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics 20.0 and were considered significant at P ≤ 0.05ResultsKnowledge of malaria symptoms, transmission, and prevention was reasonable among 55.8% (77) of the respondents. Only 33.6% (47) of the respondents could attribute the cause of malaria to protozoan of genus Plasmodium species. Of the 140 vendors, 115(82.7%) prescribe antimalarial drugs. The knowledge of the national protocol was malaria case management among dispensers was 35.0%. Vendors in hospital/community pharmacies were 2.4 times (OR = 3.14, 95% CI: 4.14 - 8.74, P < 0.001). more knowledgeable about malaria treatment protocol than those of in drugstores. The prevalence of self-prescription of antimalarials was 39.3%. Self-prescription was significantly higher in drugstores than hospital/community pharmacies (P=0.004). In all, 56(40.6%) of vendors showed good practices regarding antimalarial drug dispensing with majority (51.7%) from community pharmacies (OR=2.27,95% CI: 1.13-4.56).ConclusionsFindings reveal moderate knowledge of malaria but poor prescription and dispensing practices of antimalarial drugs among vendors, thus indicating a need for routine monitoring and evaluation to prevent emergence of resistant strains to current efficacious antimalarials

Phenotypic Analysis of Rodent Malaria Parasite Asexual and Sexual Blood Stages and Mosquito Stages.

Recent advances in genetics and systems biology technologies have promoted our understanding of the biology of malaria parasites on the molecular level. However, effective malaria parasite targets for vaccine and chemotherapy development are still limited. This is largely due to the unavailability of relevant and practical in vivo infection models for human Plasmodium species, most notably for P.falciparum and P. vivax. Therefore, rodent malaria species have been extensively used as practical alternative in vivo models for malaria vaccine, drug targeting, immune response, and functional characterization studies of conserved Plasmodiumspp. genes. Indeed, rodent malaria models have proven to be invaluable, especially for exploring mosquito transmission and liver stage biology, and were indispensable for immunological studies. However, there are discrepancies in the methods used to evaluate the phenotypes of transgenic and wild-type asexual and sexual blood-stage parasites.Examples of these discrepancies are the choice of an intravenous vs. intraperitoneal infection of rodents with blood-stage parasites and the evaluation of male gamete exflagellation. Herein, we detail standardized experimental methods to evaluate the phenotypes of asexual and sexual blood stages in transgenic parasites expressing reporter-gene or wild-type rodent malaria parasite species. We also detail the methods to evaluate the phenotypes of malaria parasite mosquito stages (gametes, ookinetes, oocysts, and sporozoites) inside Anopheles mosquito vectors. These methods are detailed and simplified here for the lethal and non-lethal strains of P. berghei and P. yoelii but can also be applied with some adjustments to P. chabaudi and P. vinckei rodent malaria species.