lucky finding. The Plasmodium parasite - seen here in the gut of a mosquito -. Can be killed with a common antibiotic
An antibiotic that helps to fight zits and bad breath may be able to prevent a much more serious disease. In the February issue of Nature Medicine , the researchers report that triclosan, often used in mouthwashes and acne creams can cure mice of malaria. The study also describes a new biochemical pathway in the malaria parasite that could be the target of several other drugs.
With 2.7 million deaths each year, malaria remains one of the most ruthless killers of the tropics. And because the parasite tends to develop resistance to all drugs, scientists are short of ideas to cure the disease. In search of alternatives, Namita and Avadhesha Surolia, Central Jawaharlal Nehru for Advanced Scientific Research in Jakkur, India, mice infected with the malaria parasite, and then inject them with triclosan. "We just thought we'd give it a try," says Namita Surolia. The two researchers were surprised to see that the animals were all healed within 4 days and remained healthy, while other infected mice malaria died after a week
the success was fascinating, because the attacks of triclosan one of the enzymes that help produce fatty acids -. things as cell membranes are made of - in plants and bacteria. But the parasite Plasmodium that causes malaria is a whole other unicellular organism, and until recently scientists thought it did not have the biochemical pathways to produce fatty acids . (instead, they assumed that Plasmodium borrowed its fatty acids from its animal host.)
the Surolias continued to show that, as in bacteria, triclosan is the key jams plasmodium s fatty acid machines; inhibits one of the key enzymes in biochemical conveyor belt. This brings the cycle of the fatty acid to a grinding halt, and the parasite can not divide unless new cell membranes.
Triclosan is normally used outdoors and can be dangerous to swallow at high doses. But if it proves to be safe, it could be tested as a treatment for malaria in humans, said James Beeson, a researcher of malaria at the University of Melbourne, Australia. In addition, all other enzymes involved in fatty acid production became suddenly potential targets, he said, giving science a much needed boost in the arms race with Plasmodium .
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