Ex vivo drug sensitivity assay on Plasmodium malariae in Lambaréné

Abstract

The IC50-values obtained for CQ, AS and ATQ give reason to state that these drug compounds are applicable for P. malariae treatment. The fact that living P. malariae parasites were still observed after four cell cycles under in vitro culture conditions gives sufficient reason to believe that it is possible to cultivate P. malariae in vitro. However, due to the low number of interpretable results obtained and the failure to grow a long-term P. malariae culture, conducting more ex vivo or in vitro studies on the pathogen is strongly recommended. In summary, this study contributed to a better understanding of the biology and drug sensitivity of the scientifically neglected malaria pathogen P. malariae.