Antiretroviral Drugs: A Shot in the Arm to Fight Malaria?

Serum from HIV-infected people with the help of protease inhibitors was used by the researchers against the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. The finding revealed that serum taken from people who were undergoing antiretroviral therapy, consisting of ritonavir-boosted saquinavir (Invirase) or lopinavir (Kaletra), showed remarkable anti-malarial activity. The presence of nelfinavir (Viracept), amprenavir (Agenerase) and the NNRTI nevirapine (Viramune) in thereapies did not hamper the proliferation of the malarial parasite.

According to researchers, the life of the parasite is entirely dependent on the protease enzymes released by the plasmodium species, which may form the basis for the development of a new variety of anti-malarial drugs. Further research is warranted to establish the success rates of these drugs.

Source: Medindia
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